A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Bevin, Elway

BEVIN, Elway, an eminent theoretical and practical musician, the date of whose birth is unknown. He was of Welsh extraction, and received his musical education under Tallis. According to Wood (Ashmole MS. 8568, 106) he was organist of Bristol Cathedral in 1589. Hawkins says it was upon Tallis's recommendation that he was admitted a gentleman extraordinary of the Chapel Royal, June 3, 1589. But this is an error—he was not admitted until June 3, 1605, at which period Tallis had been dead just upon twenty years. In 1637, on the discovery that Bevin was of the Romish persuasion, he was expelled the chapel. At the same time he forfeited his situation at Bristol. Wood, who states this, refers to the chapter books of Bristol as his authority. His Service in D minor is printed in Barnard's 'Selected Church Musick,' and in Boyce's 'Cathedral Music,' and several anthems of his are extant in MS. But the work by which he is best known is his 'Brief and Short Introduction to the Art of Musicke, to teach how to make Discant of all proportions that are in use: very necessary for all such as are desirous to attaine knowledge in the art, and may by practice, if they can sing, soone be able to compose three, four, and five parts, and also to compose all sorts of canons that are usuall, by these directions, of two or three parts in one upon the plain Song.' London, 1631, 4to. This treatise is dedicated to Dr. Goodman, Bishop of Gloucester, to whom the author says he is 'bound for many favours.' What became of Bevin after his expulsion from his situations, we have not ascertained. (Cheque Book of Chapel Royal, Camd. Soc.)

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