A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Leighton, William

by William H. Husk

LEIGHTON, Sir William, Knight, one of the band of Gentlemen Pensioners of Elizabeth and James I, published in 1614 'The Teares or Lamentacions of a Sorrowfvll Soule; Composed with Musicall Ayres and Songs both for Voyces and Divers Instruments.' The work consists of 54 metrical psalms and hymns, 17 of which are for 4 voices, with accompaniments, in tableture, for the lute, bandora and cittern; and 13 for 4 voices and 24 for 5 voices without accompaniment. The first 8 pieces are of Leighton's own composition, and the rest were contributed by the following composers:—Dr. John Bull, William Byrde, John Coperario, John Dowland, Alfonso Ferrabosco, Thomas Ford, Orlando Gibbons, Nathaniel Giles, Edmond Hooper, Robert Johnson, Robert Jones, Robert Kindersley, Thomas Lupo, John Milton, Martin Pearson, Francis Pilkington, Timolphus Thopul (a pseudonym), John Ward, Thomas Weelkes and John Wilbye. From the dedication to Prince Charles we learn that the collection was compiled while the worthy knight was—unjustly, as he alleges—incarcerated for debt. He had in the preceding year published the poetry alone in a duodecimo volume.

[ W. H. H. ]