A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Farnaby, Giles

FARNABY, GILES, Mus. Bac., was of the family of Farnaby of Truro, and nearly related to Thomas Farnabie, the famous Kentish school-master. He commenced the study of music about 1580, and on July 9, 1592, graduated at Oxford as Bachelor of Music. He was one of the ten composers employed by Thomas Este to harmonise the tunes for his 'Whole Book of Psalms,' published in 1592. In 1598 he published 'Canzonets to foure voyces, with a song of eight parts,' with commendatory verses prefixed by Antony Holborne, John Dowland, Richard Alison, and Hugh Holland. A madrigal by Farnaby, 'Come, Charon, come,' is extant in MS.

[ W. H. H. ]

[App. p.633 "he graduated at Christ Church as Mus. Bac. on July 7, 1592; stating in his supplicat that he had studied music for 12 years. (Wood's 'Fasti,' ed. Bliss, i. 257.) There are a number of pieces by him in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book (see vol. iv. pp. 308–310), among which is a curious composition for two virginals. The same volume contains four pieces by his son, Richard Farnaby, of whom nothing is known. Giles Farnaby contributed harmonies to some of the tunes in Ravenscroft's Psalter (1621). Wood's statement that he was a native of Truro is probably correct, though the name does not occur in the Visitation of Cornwall of 1620. Thomas Farnaby's wife came from Launceston; he lived most of his life in London and Sevenoaks, and his descendants remained in Kent, but the early history of the family is obscure, and the connection between Giles and Thomas Farnaby cannot be traced."]

[ W. B. S. ]