What is Pelham Humfrey?
'''Pelham Humfrey''' (also: ''Humphrey'') (born [[London]] 1647; died [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]] 14 July 1674) was an [[England|English]] composer in the [[Baroque music|Baroque]] period. Although he died at the age of 26 he had an important [[influence]] on English composers such as [[William Turner (composer)|William Turner]] and [[Henry Purcell]]. He lived at the time of the [[English Restoration|Restoration]], when England was ruled by a king once more after two [[decade]]s of [[republic]]an rule, during which music had not been allowed in [[church]]es. ==Life== We do not know much detail about his early life. He seems to have been a choirboy in the [[Chapel Royal]] by 1660. During this time he was obviously becoming a very gifted composer. Other boys in the choir included [[John Blow]] and [[William Turner (composer)|William Turner]]. As a young man he travelled to [[France]] where he heard music by French composers such as [[Lully]] and [[Italy|Italians]] such as [[Carissimi]]. This helped him to form his own style. He became a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal. He wrote some fine anthems, although the [[diarist]] [[Samuel Pepys]] thought that he was showing off. This may be because Pepys did not like the new kind of music. He married the daughter of his old choir master Henry Cooke. He became Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal. This meant that he was in charge of the children in the king's chapel choir. He was also a court composer. He became ill and died at the age of 26. He was buried in the [[cloister]]s of [[Westminster Abbey]]. ==His music== Humfrey composed a lot of music during his very short life. It helped to form the English Baroque style. He mostly wrote church music, but he also wrote some music for the [[theatre]]. Humfrey liked to compose music which excited people's emotions. Some of his [[melody|melodies]] jump around in unexpected ways. There is a lot of [[chromaticism]]. Some of his best [[anthem]]s include: ''O Lord my God'', ''By the waters of Babylon