John Mundy (composer)

John Mundy was an English composer, virginalist and organist of the Renaissance period.

Life and works

The son and pupil of the eminent composer William Mundy, he was organist at Eton, and succeeded John Marbeck after his death in 1585 as organist at St George's Chapel, Windsor. He received a bachelor of music degree from the University of Oxford in 1586, and his doctorate in 1624. In 1585 he was appointed joint organist of Westminster Abbey with Nathaniel Giles, a post he maintained until his death in 1630.
Mundy was one of the earliest English madrigalists. He published a volume of Songs and Psalms in 1594, and contributed a madrigal, Lightly she whipped o'er the dales, to The Triumphs of Oriana, a compilation of madrigals by Thomas Morley in honour of Queen Elizabeth I. He composed sacred music in English and Latin, including music for the Book of Common Prayer, and is represented in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book by five pieces, including a magnificent set of variations on the popular song Goe from my window and a whimsical but fine miniature, Munday's Joy. He also wrote a setting of the recusant Chidiock Tichborne's poem My prime of youth before the latter's gruesome execution in 1586 for his part in the Babington Plot.
Mundy died on 29 June 1630 at Windsor, succeeded in his post there by his colleague Nathaniel Giles.

Compositions

Songs and Psalmes

For 3 voices
*1. Praise the Lord, O my soul
*2. Save me, O God
*3. O all ye nations of the Lord
*4. Blessed art thou that fearest God
*5. Thus art thou blest that fearest God
*6. Hear my prayer, O Lord
*7. Ye people all in one accord
*8. O Lord, turn not away thy face
*9. O come, let us lift up our voice
*10. Of all the birds that I have heard
*11. As I went a walking in the month of May
*12. Turn about and see me
For 4 voices
*13. Lord, to thee I make my moan
*14. O Lord, of whom I do depend
*15. Sing ye unto the Lord our God
*16. I lift my heart to thee
*17. My prime of youth
*18. In deep distress
*19. The longer that I live
*20. The shepherd Strephon
*21. Witness, ye heavens
*22. Heigh ho! I’ll go to plough no more
For 5 voices
*23. Lord, arise and help thy servant
*24. Have mercy on me, O Lord
*25. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes
*26. Were I a king
*27. In midst of woods
*28. The blackbird
*29. Penelope that longed for the night
*30. Who loves a life
Lightly she whipped o'er the dales, madrigal, in 5 parts

Sacred vocal music

Aedes nostra sancta, motet
Ah helpless wretch, anthem
Blessed be the Lord, sacred song, in 5 parts
Blessed is God in all His gifts, anthem, in 7 parts
De Lamentatione, sacred motet
Dominus illuminatio mea, motet, in 3 parts
Dum transisset sabbatum, sacred responsory
Give laud unto the Lord, anthem, in 7 parts
In te Domine speravi, sacred motet
Judica me Deus, sacred motet
Kyrie 'lux et origo'
Let us now laud and magnify with music, anthem, in 4 parts
O give thanks unto the Lord for he is gracious, anthem, for 4, 5, or 7 parts
O God my strength and fortitude, anthem
O Lord, our governor, anthem, for 5 or 8 parts
Send aid and save me, anthem
Sicut erat,, in 3 parts
Sing joyfully unto God our strength, anthem, in 5 parts
Thou hast make him lower

Instrumental music
;for keyboard

Fantasia
Fantasia, Faire Wether, etc.
Robin
Goe from my Window
Munday's Joy

for instrumental consort

Judica me deus, motet without words, in 6 parts, for viols
In nōie, in 6 parts
In nōie, in 5 parts
, in 6 parts
In nōie, in 5 parts