Gibbons, Orlando (1583-1625), was an English composer and musician. He is primarily known for his church music, which consists of anthems, psalms, and entire worship services, all written in English. His madrigal The Silver Swan (1612) is perhaps his best-known nonreligious composition.
Gibbons was a fine keyboard performer, and composed works for two keyboard instruments, the organ and the virginal. Some of his works for the virginal appeared in a famous collection called Parthenia (1611). Gibbons also wrote more music for strings than most composers of his time. This music consists of works for the viola da gamba, a stringed instrument popular in the 1500’s and 1600’s.
Gibbons was born in Oxford and grew up in Cambridge. In 1605, he became organist at the Chapel Royal, a position he held until his death. In 1623, he was appointed organist of Westminster Abbey.
