Composer, Musician. A contemporary of John Dowland, he was long associated with England's royal family. His best known works were published as "Musicke of Sundrie Kindes" (1607), featuring the famous partsongs "Since First I Saw Your Face", and "There is a Ladie, Sweet and Kind". Some of his church music shows a nascent Baroque influence. It includes the anthems "Almighty God, Which Hast Me Brought" and "Not Unto Us". He also composed dance music and pieces for viol consort. Nothing is known of Ford's life before 1607, except that he was a highly skilled lute and viol player. He was a household musician to Henry, Prince of Wales from 1610 to 1612, and to Prince Charles (later Charles I) from 1617 to 1642. His employment was terminated at the start of the English Civil War and he retired to Westminster. He was buried at St. Margaret's Church on November 17, 1648. His surviving output includes 35 partsongs, 18 dances, eight sacred anthems and canons, and six chamber fantasias. Some of it went unpublished for centuries after his death.
Composer, Musician. A contemporary of John Dowland, he was long associated with England's royal family. His best known works were published as "Musicke of Sundrie Kindes" (1607), featuring the famous partsongs "Since First I Saw Your Face", and "There is a Ladie, Sweet and Kind". Some of his church music shows a nascent Baroque influence. It includes the anthems "Almighty God, Which Hast Me Brought" and "Not Unto Us". He also composed dance music and pieces for viol consort. Nothing is known of Ford's life before 1607, except that he was a highly skilled lute and viol player. He was a household musician to Henry, Prince of Wales from 1610 to 1612, and to Prince Charles (later Charles I) from 1617 to 1642. His employment was terminated at the start of the English Civil War and he retired to Westminster. He was buried at St. Margaret's Church on November 17, 1648. His surviving output includes 35 partsongs, 18 dances, eight sacred anthems and canons, and six chamber fantasias. Some of it went unpublished for centuries after his death.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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