Twelve Good Musicians

(?)

into a University, but its founder, Sir Thomas Gresham, certainly seems to have had such an end in view, and John Bull was the first Gresham Music Lecturer. As his successor at Gresham College, and as I have the honour to be the first Musical Professor in the University of London, I think there is a justification for beginning this course in the University with a consideration of the old Gresham Professor. I must premise that in selecting twelve good men I have by no means

of a Somersetshire family, he became one of the Children of the Chapel Royal (as will be seen, always a great nursery of young

g his old master, Blytheman. He was evidently determined to get on in his profession, for, besides all these posts and varied activities, he found time in 1586 to take the d

d in those parts." A Mr. W. Chelps, of Tewkesbury showed him "rare kindness" and was rewarded

xford, the delay in taking it having been caused, according to a contemporary writer

atin, but he was allowed to deliver them in English. Unfortunately there is no copy of his lectures to be found, but Mr. Barclay Squire in an

sons the Aldermen and Commoners of the Citie of London, with a great multitude of other people the 6th day of October 1597, in the new erected College of Sir Tho

elf is not to be found; it is interesting to lea

tain: he must have given his audience a real treat by his Clavier performance; for doubtless he obeyed the directions given in the Founder's will-directions which are observed to this day. It was wise

z: the theoretique part for one half hour or thereabouts, and the pr

ated by many, but, so far, there seems no proof of it. We know, however, that he was honoured by

y dined at Merchant Taylors' Hall. According to Stowe, "John Bull, Doctor of Music, one of the Organists of His Majestie's Chapel Royal and free of the Mer

ner time"), the Singing Men and Children of the Royal Chapel sang melodious songs, and some of the best singers of the day sang songs by Coperario, from a ship which was suspended in the great Hall. Besides all this the Choir of St

l Royal, who performed in the King's chamber, were rewarded the next day by being admitted into the livery of the Company as a recognition of their services

mposer W. Byrd. Bull's fame had so spread that he had many tempting offers to attach himself

being one of the conditions of the appointment. The lady of his choice was "Elizabeth

s at a salary of ￡40 a year, and another mention is made of him in connection with Princess Elizabeth's marriage, on which occa

in his flight from England. The first hint is suggested by the followi

S

eire favors to chaunge my name, and put in my childes, leaving out my owne. It is but ￡40 by yeare for my service h

n a tone of great humiliation. Was it an instance of coming events casting their shadows b

hout licence, and was admitted into the Archduke's Se

rter's salary, Michaelmas to Christmas, was

g possessed with crotchets, as many musicians are." A letter, however, from the British Minister at Brussels to King James I, puts a rather different complexion on it. It would appear that the M

under which fained pretext he sought to wrong the reputation of your Majesty's justice, but did in that dishonest manner steal out of England through the guilt of a corr

l's religious sensitiveness, but there is n

ral, dying in that city on the 12th or 13th of

e great Dutch organist, included a Canon by Bull in his work on Composition.

inals ever published in England.") There are examples of his Church Music in Boyce's Cathedral Music (1760), but, like many other specimens contained in that valuable and well-known collection, these compositions of Bull do not seem to me to be the best examples of his powers. A really beautiful little motet contained in Sir Wil

ith other specimens of Bull's s

e University of Oxford,

force in fi

kill good-wil

ortrait is prefi