John Ward (composer)
John Ward (1590–1638) was an English composer.
Born in Canterbury, John Ward was a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral. He appears to have stayed in Canterbury until at least 1607 and then went to London where he served Sir Henry Fanshawe (1569–1616) as a musician. Fanshawe, who held the office of remembrancer of the exchequer, had a house in Warwick Lane, London, and a country house at Ware, Hertfordshire.
The Fanshawe family appear to have employed more than one person called John Ward (if so, the other was possibly the composer's father), which makes some details of the composer's life difficult to establish. One important stage in his career was the publication of his "first set" of madrigals in 1613. It was printed by Thomas Snodham and dedicated to his patron. His output includes at least one lament for Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, who was on good terms with Fanshawe.
Sir Henry died in 1616. His eldest son and heir Thomas Fanshawe gave less support to the family's musical establishment. The remembrancership was put in trust for Thomas when he went abroad in 1618 to continue his education and he took up his duties on his return to England in 1619. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography suggests that it was probably about this time ("and certainly by April 1621") that Ward obtained "a modest post" in the remembrancer's office.[1]
Ward married and had at least 5 children. Records show that he held property in Ilford Magna, Essex, where he died in 1638. However, he retained his job in the remembrancer's office in London until the year of his death.[1]
Ward composed madrigals, works for viol consort, services, and anthems. His madrigals are remarkable for their fine texts, broad melodic lines and originality.
Works, editions and recordings
First Set of English Madrigals of three, four, five, and six parts, apt both for Viols and Voices ; with a mourning song, in memory of Prince Henry. Newly composed by John Ward. 1613 Edition: ed Fellowes, EM 19 1922, 1968 (rev).
Recordings
- 1982 "complete": Consort of Musicke, Anthony Rooley, (Decca, two LPs; reissued on one CD by Australian Eloquence 2010).The First Set of English Madrigals; Four Fantasies for Viols.[2]
- 1988 selection; with three unpublished madrigals not previously recorded (Hyperion)
- Madrigals and Fantasias, The Consort of Musicke. Anthony Rooley, director. 1994? Columns Classics WGPS 070981.
- Consort Music for Five and Six Viols - Phantasm (Linn 2009)
References
Lee, Sidney, ed. (1899). "Ward, John (fl.1613)". Dictionary of National Biography 59. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- 1 2 “Ward, John (bap. 1590, d. 1638),” Ian Payne in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, See online ed., ed. Lawrence Goldman, Oxford: OUP (subscription or UK public library membership required). http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/28689 (accessed November 14, 2014).
- ↑ Review by: Mike Smith Early Music, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Jul., 1982), pp. 401+403+405 Published by: Oxford University Press. Accessed via JSTOR (subscription required). Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3126218)
External links
- Free scores by John Ward at the International Music Score Library Project
- Free scores by John Ward in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
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