A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Brewer, Thomas

BREWER, Thomas, [App. p.564 "date of birth 1611,"] was educated at Christ's Hospital [App. p.564 "till 1626"], and brought up as a performer on the viol. He flourished in the time of Charles I, the Protectorate, and part of the reign of Charles II. He was the composer of several excellent fantasias for the viol; and many rounds and catches of his are printed in Hilton's 'Catch that Catch can.' He was the composer of the pretty three-part song 'Turn Amaryllis,' inserted by Playford in his 'Musical Companion.' In the Harleian MS., No. 6395, entitled 'Merry Passages and Jests,' compiled by Sir Nicholas Lestrange, is the following anecdote respecting him:—'Thomas Brewer, my musical servant, through his proneness to good fellowship, having attained to a very rich and rubicund nose, being reprov'd by a friend for his too frequent use of strong drinkes and sacke, as very pernicious to that distemper and inflammation in his nose—"Nay, faith," says he, "if it will not endure sacke, it is no nose for me."' The date of his death is not known. [App. p.564 "Elizabeth Rogers' Virginal Book (in the British Museum) contains two pieces by him."]

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