ALFONSO FERRABOSCO II  

The English-born son of Alfonso Ferrabosco I was, like his homonymous father, a lutenist and viol player and received money from the court of Elizabeth I and from her successor, King James I. He collaborated with Ben Jonson and Inigo Jones in the provision of court masques, and he served as teacher to Prince Henry, and, on the latter’s death, to the future Charles I. His sons – a third Alfonso, Henry and John – were also musicians, the first two succeeding their father in the royal service, and the last serving the court under Charles II after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

Church Music

Like his father, Ferrabosco wrote Latin motets and a small number of English anthems.

Secular Vocal Music

Ferrabosco added to the repertoire of lute songs, some intended for court masques. There are other solo songs and what he called madrigalette for four high voices – settings of Italian texts.

Lute and Viol Music

Ferrabosco also wrote fantasias for consorts of viols, together with lessons for the fashionable lyra-viol.