Thomas Tomkins (Thompkins; Thompson)  1572 - 1656

Organist of Worcester Cathederal 1597 - 1646
B.Mus, Oxford 1607
Gentleman of the Chapel Royal 1617 - 1620
Organist of the Chapel Royal 1621 - ?


The son of a musician employed at the Welsh Cathedral of St. Davids, 
Thomas Tomkins became master of the choristers and organist at 
Worcester Cathedral and later served as organist to the Chapel Royal. 
His career as a church musician was ended by the Civil War  (as were so
many, either by political / religious pressure or being killed in the conflicts of the
times or by the Plague) and the surrender of Worcester to the parliamentary army in 
1646, although he published one volume of virginal works after his 
forced retirement.

Three brothers; Giles, Robert and Nathaniel were also important musicians.

 
Thomas Tomkins was primarily a composer of church music, with five 
service settings and a number of anthems that remain in the English 
cathedral repertoire; these last include the moving lament for Absalom, 
"When David Heard".  His only secular publication (1622) is titled "Songs".

He added to the repertoire of the English madrigal with works for three, 
four, five and six parts. The madrigals were published in London in 
1622 and include a number of sacred songs with settings of pastoral 
verses. He wrote also music for instrumental consort, including 
fantasias and dances, in particular pavanes and galliards. 
It must also be noted that in an age when men lived routinely only 
their forties or fifties, his was a rather long life. We are the richer for it.