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William Lawes was, with his brother Henry, a court musician to Charles I. He
enjoyed great favor and friendship with the king, and when the king moved the
court to Oxford, William followed and was made a commissary in the king's personal
life guards. He was shot and killed at Chester while riding with the king whose
troops were attempting to free a garrison there. He was remembered by the king
as the 'Father of Musick' and his portrait as a cavalier hangs in the Faculty
of Music at Oxford. His work consists of instrumental, vocal and stage works
and he was the most important English composer of stage music prior to Henry
Purcell. None of his works were published in his lifetime, but his influence
on other composers of his day as well as those who followed was considerable.
The rise of Purcell ultimately overshadowed Lawes' work, but he still maintains
an important position in the history of mid 17th century English music.
| Concord is Conquer |
Fretwork |
Virgin |
| Consort set for 5 & 6 Viols |
Fretwork |
Virgin VC759021-2 |
| 8 Sonatas for Violin, Bass Viol & Organ |
London Baroque |
Harmonia Mundi HMC901493 |
