Lawes, William

Lawes, William

(baptized May 1, 1602, Salisbury, Wiltshire, Eng.—died Sept. 24, 1645, Chester, Cheshire) English composer. He was the brother of composer Henry Lawes, and in 1635 he became a musician to Charles I. He wrote a large quantity of instrumental music, mostly for string consorts. Lawes's music for some 25 dramatic productions—including works by Ben Jonson and William Davenant—made him the principal English theatrical composer before Henry Purcell. He fought with the Royalists during the English Civil Wars and was killed at the siege of Chester.