What is Thomas Weelkes?
'''Thomas Weelkes''' (baptised in Elsted, [[Sussex]] on [[October 25|25 October]] [[1576]]; died [[London]], buried [[December 1|1 December]] [[1623]]) was an [[English people|English]] [[composer]] and [[pipe organ|organist]]. He is one of the greatest composers of madrigals of his time as well as great composer of [[church music]]. ==Life== Thomas Weelkes was baptised in the little village church of Elsted in [[Sussex]] on [[October 25|25 October]], [[1576]]. His father, John Weeke may have been the [[rector]] at that church.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Thomas Weelkes: A Biographical and Critical Study|last=Brown|first=David|publisher=Faber|year=1969|isbn=978-0-57-108933-8|location=London|pages=19-21}}</ref> There is no information about Weelkes' childhood. We know that in [[1597]] he published his first volume of madrigals, and that he was a young man then. After working for a short time at the house of Edward Darcye, he got the job of organist at [[Winchester College]] in [[1598]]. He was paid 13s 4d (almost 67p in modern money) per quarter (i.e. every three months), but was given food and somewhere to live. He stayed there for three or four years. During his time in Winchester, Weelkes composed two more volumes of madrigals, published in 1598 and [[1600]]. He got his [[Bachelor of music]] degree from [[New College, Oxford]] in [[1602]], and moved to [[Chichester]] to take up the job of organist and choir master at the Cathedral. He was also a [[lay clerk]] at the Cathedral, and was paid £15 2s 4d (£15.11 in modern money) in addition to having food and lodgings. The next year he married Elizabeth Sandham, who came from a rich family. They had three children. Weelkes' fourth and final volume of madrigals, published in [[1608]], has a title page where he says that he was a Gentleman of the [[Chapel Royal]]. However, his name does not appear in the records at the Chapel Royal, so it is likely that he was only there for a short time until someone else was found for the job. In later years Weelkes got into troub