Thomas Ford (composer)

Thomas Ford (c. 1580buried 17 November 1648) was an English composer, lutenist, viol player and poet. Life Ford was attached to the court of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, son of James I, who died in 1612. He was a musician to the household of Prince Henry from 1610 to 1612, a musician to the household of Prince Charles from 1617 to 1625, and a musician to Charles I from 1626 to 1642, the outbreak of the English Civil War. His will was made on 12 November 1648 and he was buried in St. Margaret’s, Westminster on 17 November, but it is not known exactly when he died. Ford wrote anthems, for three to six voices; four sacred canons; 35 partsongs; six fantasias for five parts; and a few other pieces for viols. His most important collection was probably the Musicke of Sundrie Kindes (London, 1607), which was in two parts. The first book included lute ayres, described as “Aries for 4 voices to the Lute, Orphorion, or Basse-viol, with a Dialogue for two Voices…”; the second part contained dances such as “Pavens, Galiards, Almaines, Toies, Jigges, Thumpes, and such like…” scored for combinations of viols. Many of the ayres are given in two versions: one for voice or voices and lute,