[Alleluia! Sing for joy and celebrate]

Composer: Thomas Ravenscroft

Little is known about Thomas Ravenscroft’s (b. circa Sussex, England, 1592; d. circa London, England, 1635) early life. It is believed he sang in the choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and probably received his bachelor’s degree in 1605 from Cambridge. Ravenscroft is principally known for his collections of folk music: Pammelia (1609), Deuteromelia or The Seconde Part of Musicks Melodie (1609), which includes the famous children’s song “Three Blind Mice,” and Melismata (1611). He also published a metrical psalter (The Whole Booke of Psalmes) in 1621. He composed eleven anthems, three motets, and four fantasias. He also wrote two treatises on music theory: A Briefe Discourse of the True (but Neglected) Use of Charact’ring the Degre… Go to person page >