Composer. He helped develop the madrigal, or consort song, in England. The 24 tunes in Kirbye's book "The First Set of English Madrigals" (1597) are somber and pessimistic, but the finest of them achieve a stately grandeur. Although only a provincial musician, he was considered important enough to contribute to "The Triumphs of Oriana" (1601), an anthology of songs dedicated to Elizabeth I, in which the country's leading madrigalists were represented. His better-known vocal pieces include "With Angel's Face", "Why Should I Love", "Ah, Cruel Hateful Fortune", "See What a Maze of Error", and "Sleep Now, My Muse". Kirbye was born in Suffolk and lived there all his life, mainly in service to Sir Robert Jermyn at Rushbrooke Hall. He probably knew fellow composer John Wilbye, who had similar employment nearby. After the death of his wife in 1626 he became a warden of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds. All of Kirbye's extant music dates from his early years. In addition to his published madrigals, he wrote 19 Psalm settings for Robert East's "Psalter" (1592), and 18 incomplete songs survive in manuscript.
Composer. He helped develop the madrigal, or consort song, in England. The 24 tunes in Kirbye's book "The First Set of English Madrigals" (1597) are somber and pessimistic, but the finest of them achieve a stately grandeur. Although only a provincial musician, he was considered important enough to contribute to "The Triumphs of Oriana" (1601), an anthology of songs dedicated to Elizabeth I, in which the country's leading madrigalists were represented. His better-known vocal pieces include "With Angel's Face", "Why Should I Love", "Ah, Cruel Hateful Fortune", "See What a Maze of Error", and "Sleep Now, My Muse". Kirbye was born in Suffolk and lived there all his life, mainly in service to Sir Robert Jermyn at Rushbrooke Hall. He probably knew fellow composer John Wilbye, who had similar employment nearby. After the death of his wife in 1626 he became a warden of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds. All of Kirbye's extant music dates from his early years. In addition to his published madrigals, he wrote 19 Psalm settings for Robert East's "Psalter" (1592), and 18 incomplete songs survive in manuscript.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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