A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Campion, Thomas
CAMPION or CAMPIAN, Thomas, M.D., a physician by profession, was a poet, dramatist, composer, and writer on music in the earlier part of the 17th century. [App. p.576 adds that "he published his 'Poemata' in 1595."] In 1602 he published 'Observations on the Art of English Poesie,' and in 1607 wrote and invented a masque performed at Whitehall on Twelfth Night in honour of the marriage of Lord Hayes [App. p.576 "Hay"] with the daughter of Lord Denny, for two of the songs in which he also furnished the music. In 1610 he produced 'Two Bookes of Ayres [App. p.576 says "the date of publication of the first two books is probably 1613, as the second contains a song apparently lamenting the death of Prince Henry"]. The First contayning Divine and Morall Songs: The Second Light Conceits of Lovers. To be sung to the Lute and Viols, in two, three and foure Parts; or by one Voyce to an Instrument.' This was followed, in 1612 [App. p.576 says "Books 3 and 4 should probably be dated 1617, as they are dedicated to Sir Thomas Monson, who was implicated in the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury, and pardoned Feb. 22, 1617. Campion alludes to 'the clouds that lately overcast' Monson's 'fortune being disperst.' The lines to his patron's son, John Monson, also show that the publication must have been about this year."], by 'The Third and Fourth Booke of Ayres. Composed by Thomas Campian so as they may be expressed by one Voyce with a Violl, Lute or Opharion,' the words as well as the music being of his production. In 1613 he wrote 'Songs of Mourning bewailing the untimely death of Prince Henry,' which were set to music by John Coprario; and also devised and wrote the entertainment given by Lord Knowles at Cawsome [Caversham] House, near Reading, to Queen Anne in her progress towards the Bath on April 27 and 28; the Masque presented in the Banqueting House at Whitehall on St. Stephen's night, 1613, on the marriage of the Earl of Somerset and Lady Frances Howard; the Masque of Flowers presented by the gentlemen of Gray's Inn in the same place on Twelfth Night, 1613, in honour of the same marriage; and the Lords' Masque presented in the Banqueting House on the marriage of Frederick, the Elector Palatine, with the Princess Elizabeth on Feb. 13, 1613, for one song in which he also composed the music. Some lines by Campion are prefixed to Alfonso Ferrabosco's Ayres, 1609, and others to Ravenscroft's 'Briefe Discourse of the true (but neglected) use of Charact'ring the Degrees by their Perfection, Imperfection, and Diminution in Measurable Musicke,' 1614. Campion's treatise, 'A New Way of making Fowre parts in Counter-point, by a most familiar and infallible Rule,' was first published without date, but probably about 1618; the second edition, with annotations by Christopher Sympson, was published in 1655 under the title of 'The Art of Setting or Composing of Musick in Parts by a most familiar and easie Rule'; and another edition called 'the last' appeared in 1664, with the word 'Setting' in the title changed to 'Descant.' The later editions were appended to the first eight or nine editions of John Playford's Introduction to the Skill of Musick.'
Dr. Campion died in 1619, and was buried on March 1 in that year in the church of St. Dunstan in the West, Fleet Street.[ W. H. H. ]