Richard Davy (c. 1465–1507) was a Renaissance composer, organist and choirmaster, one of the most represented in the Eton Choirbook.

Biography

Little is known about the life of Richard Davy. His name was a common one in Devon and he may have been born there. He was a scholar of Magdalen College, Oxford, and acted as choir master and organist at least in the period 1490-2.J. Caldwell, ''The Oxford History of English Music'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998), pp. 196-201. Churchwardens' accounts for Ashburton, Devon, mention a 'Dom. Richardus Dave:' from 1493-5, where he may have been acting as a chaplain or as master of the nearby school at St. Lawrence Chapel. He may then have moved to Exeter Cathedral to be vicar choral in the period 1497-1506.

Work and influence

Davy is the second most represented composer in the Eton choirbook, with nine compositions including his most celebrated work, the ''Passio Domini in ramis palmarum'' or ''Passion according to St Matthew''.Sacred music from the Lambeth choirbook By Robert Fayrfax, Margaret Lyon
/ref> His work is considered more florid than that of his contemporaries

Robert Fayrfax Robert Fayrfax (23 April 1464 – 24 October 1521) was an English Renaissance composer, considered the most prominent and influential of the reigns of Kings Henry VII and Henry VIII of England. Biography He was born in Deeping Gate, Linco ...

and William Cornish and may have had considerable impact on later figures such as

John Taverner John Taverner ( – 18 October 1545) was an English composer and organist, regarded as one of the most important English composers of his era. He is best-known for ''Missa Gloria tibi Trinitas'' and ''The Western Wynde Mass'', and ''Missa Coro ...

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davy, Richard Renaissance composers English classical organists British male organists English choral conductors British male conductors (music) English classical composers 1465 births 1507 deaths 15th-century English people 16th-century English composers Alumni of Magdalen College, Oxford English male classical composers Male classical organists