A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Cooke, Henry

COOKE, Henry—'Captain Cooke'—was educated in the Chapel Royal of Charles I. On the breaking out of the civil war he joined the king's army, and obtained, in 1642, a captain's commission. During the Commonwealth he subsisted by teaching music. On the re-establishment of the Chapel Royal in 1660, Cooke was appointed one of the gentlemen and master of the children. In 1663 he obtained a grant for himself and his successors of £30 per annum for the diet, lodging, washing, and teaching of each of the children of the chapel. In July 1664 he was appointed 'Composer of the king's private music for voices,' at a yearly salary of £40. Cooke died July 13, 1672, and was buried on July 17 in the east cloister of Westminster Abbey. Antony Wood asserts that his death was hastened by chagrin at finding himself supplanted in favour by Pelham Humfrey, who had been his pupil. Cooke retained the title of 'captain' until his death. He composed several anthems, the words of which are contained in Clifford's collection, and a processional hymn which was performed at Windsor at the festival of the Knights of the Garter, April 17, 1661. He also contributed some of the music to Davenant's 'First Day's Entertainment at Rutland House' in 1657 [App. p.597 "1656"]. [App. p.597 adds that "he composed all the special music for the coronation of Charles II, April 23, 1661."]

[ W. H. H. ]