Thomas Campion

Date of Birth: February 12, 1567

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: March 1, 1620

Biography

Thomas Campion was an English composer, poet, and physician, known for his significant contributions to the music and literature of the Renaissance period. Born in London, Campion was educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge, and later studied law at Gray’s Inn. However, he never completed his legal studies, choosing instead to pursue his passions in music and poetry. Campion is best remembered for his lute songs, masques, and his influential treatises on music and poetry. His works are characterized by their delicate lyricism and sophisticated interplay between text and melody. He composed over 100 lute songs, many of which were published in four collections between 1601 and 1617. In addition to his musical achievements, Campion also wrote several masques for the court of King James I and was a practicing physician.

5 Interesting Facts about Thomas Campion

1. Thomas Campion was not only a composer and poet but also a practicing physician, having earned his medical degree from the University of Caen in France.

2. He published a treatise on counterpoint titled “A New Way of Making Fowre Parts in Counter-point” in 1610, which was influential in the development of English music theory.

3. Campion wrote the words and music for his songs, a relatively rare practice among composers of his time.

4. He composed over 100 lute songs, many of which are still performed today for their expressive melodies and elegant poetry.

5. Campion’s masque “Lord Hay’s Masque,” performed in 1607, was one of the most elaborate and expensive court entertainments of the early 17th century.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Thomas Campion

1. “Never weather-beaten sail more willing bent to shore.”

2. “There is a garden in her face, where roses and white lilies grow.”

3. “Time’s the king of men; he’s both their parent, and he is their grave, and gives them what he will, not what they crave.”

4. “Follow thy fair sun, unhappy shadow.”

5. “Rose-cheeked Laura, come; sing thou smoothly with thy beauty’s silent music.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Thomas Campion’s net worth cannot be precisely quantified in modern terms. However, as a successful composer and court musician, he would have enjoyed a comfortable standard of living, supported by patronage from the English nobility.