A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Kirbye, George

KIRBYE, George, was one of the ten composers who harmonised the tunes for ' The Whole Booke of Psalmes,' published by Thomas Este in 1592. In 1597 he put forth 'The First Set of Madrigals to 4, 5, and 6 Voyces,' dedicated to the two daughters of Sir Robert Jermin, Knt., whom the composer terms his 'very good maister,' and containing 24 madrigals. Several other madrigals by Kirbye are extant in a nearly contemporary MS. collection, formed by a William Firmage, and now in the library of the Sacred Harmonic Society, but unfortunately wanting the quintus and sextus parts. He contributed to 'The Triumphes of Oriana,' 1601, the six -part madrigal 'Bright Phœbus greetes most cleerely.'

[ W. H. H. ]