Thomas Ford (composer)



Thomas Ford (c. 1580 – 17 November 1648) was an English composer, lutenist, viol player and poet.

Life
He was attached to the court of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, son of James I, who died in 1612. He was musician to the household of Prince Henry from 1610 to 1612, musician to the household of Prince Charles 1617–1625, and musician to Charles I from 1626 to 1642, the outbreak of the English Civil War. He was buried in St. Margaret's, Westminster.

Writing
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.

Most likely his most important collection was 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, and another for four equal voices. An unusual feature of his music for viol is the occasional use of a sound effect: a heavy pizzicato "thump...with the first and second finger of the left hand according to the direction of the pricks."

Some of his sacred music, found in two collections from 1614 and 1620, is unusual in including a basso continuo, a plainly Baroque feature which, though common on the continent by then, only made a belated appearance in England.

Together with John Dowland, Ford is a chief representative of the school which preceded Henry Lawes.