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Classiscsonline Home » Composers » W » Weelkes, Thomas

Thomas Weelkes (1575 - 1623)

Thomas Weelkes served briefly as organist at Winchester College before his appointment to a similar position at Chichester Cathedral, from which he was eventually dismissed for drunkenness and profanity of language. He was for a time associated with the Chapel Royal. His achievement as a composer lies in his madrigals and in music he wrote for the Church of England.

Weelkes wrote a number of service settings that remain in continued use. His anthems include the well-known Hosanna to the Son of David. The sacred madrigal, When David heard, treats with the deepest feeling King David's lament for the death of his son Absalom.

Weelkes also published a number of collections of madrigals, following the musical fashions of the turn of the century, the first collection published in 1597. These include On the plaines Fairie traines and Though my carriage be but careless. As Vesta was from Latmos hill ascending was his contribution to the collection in honour of Queen Elizabeth, The Triumphs of Oriana.