Richard Browne (fl 1614–1629) was an English

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

and organist. He is known for his

anthems An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to short s ...

; five of which survive: ''Christ rising again''; ''If the Lord himself''; ''I have declared''; ''My God, my God, look upon me''; and ''O Lord, rebuke me not in thy fury''. 17th century documents of these anthems are part of the collection at the

Bodleian Library The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second- ...

, the

Chained library A chained library is a library where the books are attached to their bookcase by a chain, which is sufficiently long enough to allow the books to be taken from their shelves and read, but not removed from the library itself. The practice was usua ...

at Wimborne Minster, the library of the

Gloucester Cathedral Gloucester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the River Severn. It originated with the establishment of a minster dedicated to S ...

, and the library of the Royal College of Music. The earliest record of Richard Browne dates from March 26, 1614 in which he is listed in the treasurer's report of the Wells Cathedral in

Wells, Somerset Wells () is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, located on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills, south-east of Weston-super-Mare, south-west of Bath and south of Bristol. Although the population recorde ...

, England as the vicar-choral and organist of that church. In 1615 he was promoted to perpetual vicar-choral of that cathedral, and remained on the payroll in that capacity through 1619. His whereabouts after this are unknown, until records of him appear in the accounts of the Winchester Cathedral where he worked as vicar-choral and organist in 1627–1629. There are no records of Browne after this period of time. He is not to be confused with two other English composers of the same name, Richard Browne (c.1630–1664) and

Richard Browne (d. 1710) Richard Browne (died May 1710) was an English composer and organist. He is not to be confused with two other English composers of the same name, Richard Browne (fl 1614–1629) and Richard Browne (c.1630–1664). Life and career The earliest pot ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Browne, Richard 17th-century English composers English Baroque composers English organists