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Robert Jones

English lutenist and composer

Robert Jones (c. 1577 – 1617) was an English lutenist and composer, the most prolific of the English lute song composers (along with Thomas Campion).

He received the degree of B.Mus. from Oxford in 1597 (St. Edmund Hall). He ran a school in London. Records show that he had a patent (monopoly) to train children for the Queen's Revels between 1610 and 1615. In 1610, he collaborated with Philip Rosseter to present plays at the Whitefriars theatre. He was recorded as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal in 1612.

He published five volumes of simple and melodious lute songs, and one of madrigals; he also contributed to The Triumphs of Oriana and Leighton's Teares. His 27 madrigals are mostly to texts about birds – birds merry, sweet, shrill, crowing or melancholic.

William Shakespeare quoted his song, 'Farewell, dear love', in Twelfth Night.

The date and place of Jones's death are not known.

Read more about this composer on Wikipedia.

Works

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  • A Musical Dreame or the Fourth Booke of Ayres 1609
  • A Musical Dreame or the Fourth Booke of Ayres 1609: II. Sweet Kate
  • A Musical Dreame or the Fourth Booke of Ayres 1609: X. O He Is Gone
  • A Musical Dreame or the Fourth Booke of Ayres 1609: XI. And is it Night?
  • A Musical Dreame or the Fourth Booke of Ayres 1609: XIX. In Sherwood Lived Bold Robin Hood
  • A Pavin
  • Fair Oriana, seeming to wink at folly
  • Go to Bed, Sweet Muse
  • If In This Flesh
  • Lie Down, Poor Heart
  • Missa Spes nostra
  • My mistress sings no other song
  • Sweet Philomel
  • The First Booke of Songes or Ayres: XII. Farwell, Dear Love
  • The Second Booke of Songs and Ayres 1601
  • The Second Booke of Songs and Ayres 1601: IV. Dreams and imaginations
  • What if I seek for love of thee
  • Whither runneth my sweetheart?