Gibbons, Orlando

Gibbons, Orlando, 1583–1625, English organist and composer. He became organist of the Chapel Royal about 1603, court virginalist in 1619, and organist at Westminster Abbey in 1623. His compositions include English anthems and services, consort and keyboard music, and madrigals. His brothers, Edward Gibbons (1568–c.1650), who was his teacher, and Ellis Gibbons (1573–1603), were also composers. Only a few pieces of their works survive. His son Christopher Gibbons (1615–76) was organist of Westminster Abbey and left some anthems and string compositions.

Bibliography

See E. H. Fellowes, Orlando Gibbons and His Family (2d ed. 1952).

---

Gibbons, Orlando

(born 1583, Oxford, Oxfordshire, Eng.—died June 5, 1625, Canterbury, Kent) English composer and organist. Son of a musician, he became organist of the Chapel Royal c. 1605 and remained there the rest of his life, serving also as organist at Westminster Abbey for his last two years. A versatile composer, he wrote several Anglican services, some 40 anthems, about 50 secular keyboard pieces, about 35 fantasias for chamber ensembles, and some 15 madrigals.