Thomas Ravenscroft
Thomas Ravenscroft (c.
1582 or
1592 until
1635) was an
English composer, theorist and editor, notable as a
composer of
rounds and
catches, and especially for compiling collections of British
folk music.
He probably sang in the choir of
St. Paul's Cathedral from
1594, when a "Thomas Raniscroft" was listed on the choir rolls; likely he remained there until around
1600, under the directorship of
Thomas Giles. He probably received his bachelor's degree in
1605 from
Cambridge.
Ravenscroft's principal contributions are his collections of
folk music, including catches, rounds,
street cries, vendor songs, "freeman's songs" and other anonymous music, in three collections:
Pammelia (
1609),
Deuteromelia (1609) and
Melismata (
1611). Some of the music he compiled has acquired quite extraordinary fame, though his name is rarely associated with the music: for example "Three Blind Mice" first appears in
Deuteromelia. He also published a
metrical psalter (
The Whole Booke of Psalmes) in
1621. As a composer his works are mostly forgotten, but they include 11
anthems, 3
motets for five voices and four
fantasias for
viols.
In addition to his activities as a composer and editor, he wrote two treatises on
music theory:
A Briefe Discourse of the True (but Neglected) Use of Charact'ring the Degrees ... (London,
1614), and
A Treatise of Musick, which remains in manuscript (unpublished).
*
Pammelia*
Deuteromelia*
Melismata*
Brief*
Psalter
