John Attey (d. c. 1640) was an English composer of

lute song The term lute song is given to a music style from the late 16th century to early 17th century, late Renaissance to early Baroque, that was predominantly in England and France. Lute songs were generally in strophic form or verse repeating with a h ...

s or ayres. Little is known about his life. He appears to have been patronised by

John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater KB, PC (1579 – 4 December 1649) was an English peer and politician from the Egerton family. The son of Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley and Elizabeth Ravenscroft, he matriculated at Brasenose ...

and the Countess Frances, to whom he dedicates his ''First Booke of Ayres of Foure Parts, with Tableture for the Lute'', in 1622. On the title-page of this work he calls himself a "Gentleman and Practitioner of Musicke." It contains fourteen songs in four parts, which may be sung as part-songs or as solos by a soprano voice, accompanied by the lute, or the lute and bass-viol. The suggestion that the accompaniment could be lute alone is unusual.Charles Edward McGuire, Steven E. Plank, ''Historical Dictionary of English Music: ca. 1400-1958'' (Scarecrow Press, 2011),
page 32
As no second collection appeared, it is probable that the composer did not meet with sufficient encouragement in all cases. Besides, the

English madrigal 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 ...

period was rapidly declining; indeed, the book is among the last known books of lute airs. He died at

Ross Ross or ROSS may refer to: People * Clan Ross, a Highland Scottish clan * Ross (name), including a list of people with the surname or given name Ross, as well as the meaning * Earl of Ross, a peerage of Scotland Places * RoSS, the Republic of Sou ...

about 1640.

Works

*''First Booke of Ayres of Foure Parts, with Tableture for the Lute'', pub. 1622; ed.

Edmund Fellowes Edmund Horace Fellowes (11 November 1870 – 21 December 1951), was a Church of England clergyman and musical scholar who became well known for his work in promoting the revival of sixteenth and seventeenth century English music. Life and work ...

, 1926; Greer, 1967. *# On a time the amorous Silvy *# The gordion knot which Alexander *# What is all this world but vaine? *# In a grove of trees of Mirtle *# Shall I tell you whom I love? *# My dearest and devinest love *# Bright Starre of Beauty *# Think not tis I alone *# Joy my muse, since there is one *# My dayes, my moneths, my yeares *# Madame, for you I little grieve *# Resound my voyce *# Vaine hope adue *# Sweet was the song the Virgin sung

Notes

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Attey, John 17th-century English composers English madrigal composers English male composers Year of birth unknown 1640 deaths English male classical composers English classical composers 17th-century male musicians