Born circa 1621 in Exeter, Matthew Locke was an important
composer during mid-17th century in England. His music, in defiance
of the preconceived notions of early Baroque music, was reflective of the
turbulent times he lived in. Today, he is mostly known for his instrumental
music, but his vocal and theater music is no less important or worthy of
consideration.
He received his musical education as a choirboy at Exeter
under the tutelage of Edward Gibbons. At the age of eighteen, he travelled to
the Netherlands where it is possible he served at the court of Prince Charles,
who had been exiled during the English Civil War. It is also likely during this
time that Locke converted to Roman Catholicism, the preferred religion of his
patron.
Following his return to England in 1651, Locke began to take
the English stage by storm. He collaborated with Christopher Gibbons in 1653 on
the music for the masque Cupid and Death
by John Shirley. Three years later, he was one of five composers to help
produce what is considered the first English opera, The Siege of Rhodes, with the playwright William Davenant. In
addition, Locke provided music for the revivals of the plays of William
Shakespeare.
Returning from exile, Charles II was restored to the English
throne in 1660 and Locke was named private composer-in-ordinary to the King.
When the King married Catherine of Braganza two years later, he became her
private organist, performing in the chapels and in her apartment with a small
ensemble of chamber players. In 1665, the English court left London to escape
the Black Death that was then spreading through the city and relocated in
Oxford. There, Locke began a fruitful relationship with the university's music
school and composed his finest sacred vocal music.
In 1673, Locke published Melothesia, a volume of keyboard music containing also a detailed
treatise on playing from a figured-bass. It was the first of its kind to be
written in English. Locke died in August 1677 after which his duties as
Composer for the Violins were taken over by a young family friend, Henry
Purcell.
Matthew Locke
Biography
Born circa 1621 in Exeter, Matthew Locke was an important composer during mid-17th century in England. His music, in defiance of the preconceived notions of early Baroque music, was reflective of the turbulent times he lived in. Today, he is mostly known for his instrumental music, but his vocal and theater music is no less important or worthy of consideration.
He received his musical education as a choirboy at Exeter under the tutelage of Edward Gibbons. At the age of eighteen, he travelled to the Netherlands where it is possible he served at the court of Prince Charles, who had been exiled during the English Civil War. It is also likely during this time that Locke converted to Roman Catholicism, the preferred religion of his patron.
Following his return to England in 1651, Locke began to take the English stage by storm. He collaborated with Christopher Gibbons in 1653 on the music for the masque Cupid and Death by John Shirley. Three years later, he was one of five composers to help produce what is considered the first English opera, The Siege of Rhodes, with the playwright William Davenant. In addition, Locke provided music for the revivals of the plays of William Shakespeare.
Returning from exile, Charles II was restored to the English throne in 1660 and Locke was named private composer-in-ordinary to the King. When the King married Catherine of Braganza two years later, he became her private organist, performing in the chapels and in her apartment with a small ensemble of chamber players. In 1665, the English court left London to escape the Black Death that was then spreading through the city and relocated in Oxford. There, Locke began a fruitful relationship with the university's music school and composed his finest sacred vocal music.
In 1673, Locke published Melothesia, a volume of keyboard music containing also a detailed treatise on playing from a figured-bass. It was the first of its kind to be written in English. Locke died in August 1677 after which his duties as Composer for the Violins were taken over by a young family friend, Henry Purcell.