Born in Exeter (probably), 1621–3
Died in London, shortly before Aug 10, 1677
- Matthew Locke was the leading composer of Restoration England. He was employed by the royal court under Charles II (Composer to the King’s “Private Music”) as well as several other aristocratic establishments in England.
- Locke was trained in the Exeter Cathedral choir, where he studied with Edward Gibbons (brother of Orlando Gibbons) and became a prominent organist.
- Locke also wrote extensively for the London theater. His works include incidental music for The Tempest (1675), a masque on he story of Orpheus and Euridice, and a score for a semi-sung work called Psyche, which helped pave the way for semi-operas by later English Baroque composers, notably Henry Purcell.
- At Locke’s death, Purcell took over his position as composer for the royal ensemble, the 24 Violins. Purcell was friends with the older composer, and wrote a musical elegy for him, “On the Death of his Worthy Friend Mr. MATTHEW LOCKE’, What hope for us remains now he is gone? (Z472).1
Sources
- Peter Holman, “Locke [Lock], Matthew,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed November 7, 2019, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000016848.