English classical musicians biography

Here are the ten composers who might just rate as England's best.

Thomas Tallis (1505-1585)

Without doubt one of England's finest ever composers, Thomas Tallis is the tops when it comes to choral music.

His tune 'Thou wast, O God' went on to inspire Vaughan Williams to create his Fantasia masterpiece. And Tallis's 40-part motet Spem in Alium is simply one of the greatest pieces of choral music ever written.


William Byrd (c.1539-1543-1623)
The Renaissance master composed in many of the forms current in the England of his time, including sacred and secular vocal works, keyboard and consort music.

Byrd’s is among the music that defined the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Good Queen Bess loved his music and, luckily for him – and us – turned a blind eye to his devout Roman Catholicism.

Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Although he was influenced by Italian and French styles, Purcell's legacy was a un