John Blitheman (''Blithman, Blytheman, Blythman'', c. 1525 – 23 May 1591) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

composer and

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational h ...

Life

The ''

Fitzwilliam Virginal Book The ''Fitzwilliam Virginal Book'' is a primary source of keyboard music from the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean periods in England, i.e., the late Renaissance and very early Baroque. It takes its name from Viscount Fitzwilliam who beque ...

,'' which includes the third of his ''Gloria tibi Trinitas'' settings, gives his forename as William. However, Chapel Royal records from 1558 to 1590 consistently refer to John Blitheman, and there can be little doubt that this was the composer's name.Caldwell and Brown, ''New Grove''. However some other references list him as William. Nothing is known about his early life. In 1555 he was chaplain at Christ Church, Oxford, becoming master of the choristers there in 1564. From 1585 until his death he was appointed organist of the Chapel Royal (succeeding

Thomas Tallis Thomas Tallis (23 November 1585; also Tallys or Talles) was an English composer of High Renaissance music. His compositions are primarily vocal, and he occupies a primary place in anthologies of English choral music. Tallis is considered one ...

), where

John Bull John Bull is a national personification of the United Kingdom in general and England in particular, especially in political cartoons and similar graphic works. He is usually depicted as a stout, middle-aged, country-dwelling, jolly and matter- ...

was both his pupil and successor. He died in London in 1591 and is buried at St Nicholas Olave,

Queenhithe Queenhithe is a small and ancient ward of the City of London, situated by the River Thames and to the south of St. Paul's Cathedral. The Millennium Bridge crosses into the City at Queenhithe. Queenhithe is also the name of the ancient, but now ...

. The great majority of Blitheman's extant works is included in ''

The Mulliner Book The Mulliner Book (British Library Add MS 30513) is a historically important musical commonplace book compiled probably between about 1545 and 1570, by Thomas Mulliner, about whom practically nothing is known, except that he figures in 1563 as ' ...

,'' where he is represented by fifteen pieces. One of his '' In nomines'', dating from before 1591, displays the earliest known example of triplet figuration in English keyboard music.

Notes

References

* John Caldwell and Alan Brown, "Blitheman lithman, Blytheman, Blythman John" ''New Grove Music Dictionary of Music and Musicians''. *

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Blitheman, John 1525 births 1591 deaths Renaissance composers English classical composers English classical organists British male organists Cathedral organists 16th-century English composers 16th-century English musicians English male classical composers People associated with Christ Church, Oxford Male classical organists