In the last Newsletter, Michael and I both mentioned our particular enthusiasm for Thomas Tomkins, and our feeling that he does not seem to get as much recognition as he deserves. Such thoughts led, towards the end of last year, to the launch of the Thomas Tomkins Society: as 2006 was the three hundred and fiftieth anniversary of his death, it seemed important to some of us that such a society should be founded before that year elapsed.
The Society aims to foster interests of all kinds and at all levels in the music of Tomkins (of course), but also in the whole range of Renaissance English music – and in the wider musical and cultural context. Music of the period from Redford to Tomkins is almost without question one of the finest jewels in the whole of English culture: yet much of it remains comparatively uncelebrated. There is really no reason why it should not enjoy the same status as the literature of the period.
Not only is Tomkins’ music wonderful – ranging from the profound and moving to the positively witty – but his life and times are also full of interest. He divided his attention between Worcester Cathedral and the Chapel Royal – passing through the gateway shown in the picture on his way to London from his house further to the right. Behind the camera (as it were) is the cathedral where he played the Dallam organ. He lived through and beyond the Civil War: his most famous piece of keyboard music, ‘A Sad Pavan for these distracted times’, is his musical response to the ultimate defeat - in the execution of the King - of the cause with which he undoubtedly sympathised strongly. Although he was able to return to his house on College Green, he suffered increasing hardship. The forced cessation of cathedral services (involving the final dismantling of the organ) deprived him of both income and purpose. His stoical response was to struggle as best he could with advancing old age and financial difficulties (making a point of continuing to set aside something for the poor), and to continue - quite remarkably - to compose keyboard music. In the shadow of his now-closed cathedral, he wrote music much of which he might have played at the services he was no longer allowed to conduct.
There is of course no question of the Tomkins Society being in any sort of competition with the BHS – or with the British Clavichord Society, or any other such body. Quite the opposite: we are all keen to co-operate to the full in the interests of helping more people to enjoy more fully the music of the English Renaissance. It is glorious stuff – and some of it has the distinct advantage of not being too tricky to play!
More information can be read on the Society’s website (www.thomastomkins.org.uk), which will give a taste of some of the things we hope to do more and more of as we grow. Membership is free, as the Society communicates electronically rather than by post (an excellent idea borrowed – with grateful acknowledgement – from the founder of another certain society): anyone interested is cordially invited to email (admin@thomastomkins.org.uk). You can be assured of a warm welcome.