A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Ravenscroft, Thomas

RAVENSCROFT, Thomas, Mus. Bac., born about 1582, was a chorister of St. Paul's under Edward Pearce, and graduated at Cambridge in 1607. In 1609 he edited and published 'Pammelia. Musickes Miscellanie: or Mixed Varietie of pleasant Roundelayes and delightful Catches of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Parts in one'—the earliest collection of rounds, catches and canons printed in this country. A second impression appeared in 1618. Later in 1609 he put forth 'Deuteromelia; or the Second Part of Musick's Melodie, or melodius Musicke of Pleasant Roundelaies; K. H. mirth, or Freemen's Songs and such delightfull Catches'; containing the catch, 'Hold thy peace, thou knave,' sung in Shakspere's 'Twelfth Night.' In 1611 he published 'Melismata. Musicall Phansies, fitting the Court, Citie, and Countrey Humours, to 3, 4 and 5 Voyces.' In 1611 [App. p.767 "1614"] he published 'A Briefe Discourse of the true (but neglected) use of Charact'ring the Degrees by their Perfection, Imperfection, and Diminution in Mensurable Musicke against the Common Practise and Custome of these Times; Examples whereof are exprest in the Harmony of 4 Voyces Concerning the Pleasure of 5 usuall Recreations. 1. Hunting. 2. Hawking. 3. Dancing. 4. Drinking. 5. Enamouring'—a vain attempt to resuscitate an obsolete practice. The musical examples were composed by Edward Pearce, John Bennet, and Ravenscroft himself. In 1621 he published the work by which he is best known, 'The Whole Booke of Psalmes: With the Hymnes Evangelicall and Spirituall. Composed into 4 parts by Sundry Authors with severall Tunes as have been and are usually sung in England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Italy, France, and the Netherlands.' Another edition 'newly corrected and enlarged' was published in 1633. Four anthems or motets by Ravenscroft are among the MSS. in the library of Christ Church, Oxford. The date of his death is not known. It is said by some to have been about 1630, and by others about 1635.

[ W.H.H. ]