Sebastian Westcott

Sebastian Westcott (also spelt Wescott or Westcote) (c. 1524 – 1582) was an English organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral. He is especially known for staging performances of plays with the Children of Paul’s. Life Westcott was a chorister, under John Redford, at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, and in 1550 became organist and almoner of the cathedral. In 1557 he became master of Children of Paul’s, the boys of that cathedral. He retained his post at St. Paul’s, under Edward VI, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth I, from 1550 to 1582, notwithstanding the fact that he was an avowed Catholic. Westcott is best known for the many plays and pageants, with music, which he produced for the English Court during a period of 32 years, these plays being performed by the boys of the cathedral school. So celebrated was he in this respect that he was generally referred to as “Master Sebastian”. Under Queen Mary he had the honour of arranging the music for the formal restoration of Catholicism at St. Paul’s, in November 1553. He also composed the Te Deum which was sung on 9 February 1554, on the suppression of Wyatt’s rebellion. He conducted the service for the reception of Cardinal Reginald Pole on the firs