Orlando Gibbons was close to Prince Henry, the eldest son of King James, who had a significant musical establishment including viol players and composers.
Cultural Impact
Glenn Gould, the famously eccentric pianist, considered Orlando Gibbons his favorite composer, stating his music moved him more deeply than any other.
Composer Biography
During his lifetime, Orlando Gibbons was principally known as an organist and was considered the leading English keyboardist after Byrd and Bull.
Composer Biography
Orlando Gibbons died suddenly in 1625, and an autopsy was performed due to fears of the plague, which revealed the cause of death to be a brain hemorrhage.
Performer Biography
Fretwork, the viol consort on this album, will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026 and has commissioned new works from prominent contemporary composers.
Composition History
Nico Muhly's piece 'My Days' is a ritualized memory piece about Orlando Gibbons, using text from Psalm 39 and an account of Gibbons's own autopsy.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Orlando Gibbons is considered by the album's author to be a genius, whose music should be elevated to the same level as Purcell, Beethoven, or Schubert.
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