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John Farmer
John Farmer
Composer of the English Madrigal School
1
William Lawes
William Lawes
English composer and musician
2
William Henry Harris
William Henry Harris
British musician
3
Hans Leo Hassler
Hans Leo Hassler
German composer and organist
4
Gioseffo Zarlino
Gioseffo Zarlino
Italian composer
5
Lodovico Agostini
Lodovico Agostini
Italian composer, singer
6
Orlando Gibbons
Orlando Gibbons
English composer, virginalist and organist (1583-1625)
7
John Blow
John Blow
English composer
8
Luzzasco Luzzaschi
Luzzasco Luzzaschi
Italian composer
9
John Bennet
John Bennet
composer of the English madrigal school
10
John Stainer
John Stainer
British composer
11
Robert Parsons
Robert Parsons
Parsons, Robert; b. ca. 1535; d. Jan. 25, 1571/72, Newark-upon-Trent; English composer; first documented in the Teller's Roll for 1560-1
12
Cristóbal de Morales
Cristóbal de Morales
Spanish composer
13
John Stafford Smith
John Stafford Smith
British composer (1750-1836)
Michael East
English composer

Michael East

Intro
English composer
Music

Michael East (or Easte, Est, Este) (ca. 1580–1648) was an English organist and composer. He was a nephew of London music publisher Thomas East (ca. 1540–1608), although it was once thought that he was his son.

In 1601, East wrote a madrigal that was accepted by Thomas Morley for publication in his collection The Triumphs of Oriana. In 1606, he received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cambridge and in 1609 he joined the choir of Ely Cathedral, initially as a lay clerk. By 1618 he was employed by Lichfield Cathedral, where he worked as a choirmaster, probably until 1644, when the Civil War brought an end to sung services. Elias Ashmole was a chorister at Lichfield, and later recalled that "Mr Michael East … was my tutor for song and Mr Henry Hinde, organist of the Cathedral … taught me on the virginals and organ".

East's exact date of death is not known, but he died at Lichfield. His will was written on 7 January 1648 and proved on 9 May 1648. It mentions his wife Dorothy, daughter Mary Hamersly, and a son and grandson both named Michael.

His most highly regarded works are his five-part fantasies for viols: Thurston Dart is quoted as saying, "despite some slipshod part-writing, they are among the best five-part consorts of the time".