A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Farrant, Richard
FARRANT, Richard, was one of the Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal in the sixteenth century. The date of his first appointment is not known, but he resigned in April, 1564, on becoming Master of the Children of St. George's Chapel, Windsor, of which he is said to have been also a lay vicar and organist. During his tenure of office at Windsor he occupied 'a dwelling house within the Castle, called the Old Commons.' On Nov. 5, 1569, he was re-appointed a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, and remained such until his death, which occurred on Nov. 30, 1580. Farrant's church music merits all the eulogy which has been bestowed upon it for solemnity and pathos. His service printed by Boyce in G minor is given by Tudway (B. Museum, Harl. MSS. 7337 and 8) in A minor, and called bis 'High Service.' His two anthems, 'Call to remembrance' and 'Hide not Thou Thy face' were for many years performed on Maundy Thursday during the distribution of the royal bounty. The beautiful anthem, 'Lord, for Thy tender mercies' sake' (the words from Lydley's Prayers), has long been assigned to Farrant, although attributed by earlier writers to John Hilton. Tudway (Add. MSS. 7340) gives another anthem—'0 Lord, Almighty,' full, 4 voices—as his, but this is questionable.
His son, Daniel, was one of the first authors who set lessons 'lyra way' for the viol, after the manner of the old English lute or bandora, in the time of Charles I.[ W. H. H. ]