A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Sheppard, John
SHEPPARD, or SHEPHERD, John, Mus. Bac., born in the early part of the 16th century, was a chorister of St. Paul's under Thomas Mulliner. In 1542 he was appointed Instructor of the choristers and organist of Magdalen College, Oxford, which office he resigned in 1543, was reappointed to it in 1545, and held it until 1547. He was a Fellow of the College from 1549 to 1551. On April 21, 1554, having then been a student in music for 20 years, he supplicated for the degree of Mus. Doc., but it does not appear whether he obtained it. John Day's 'Morning and Evening Prayer,' etc., 1560, contains two Anthems, à 4, by him—'I give you a new commandment,' and 'Submit yourselves.' The former is reprinted in the 'Parish Choir.' Another book of Day's, the 'Whole Psalms in foure parts,' 1563, has a 'Prayer' by him, 'O Lord of hostes.' Hawkins prints a motet in 3 parts by him 'Steven first after Christ for Gods worde his blood spent,' and a melodious little 'Poynte'—a fugal piece for 4 voices of 7 bars length. Burney (ii. 565) complains that the motet is not a good specimen, and prints another, 'Esurientes,' for 5 voices from the Christ Church MSS., on which he pronounces Shepherd to have been superior to any composer of the reign of Henry VIII. Much of his church music is preserved in the Music School, Oxford; an Anthem and 39 Latin Motets and a Pavin and Galliard for the lute are among the MSS. at Christ Church, Oxford. In the British Museum (Add. MSS. 15166, 29289, 30480) are treble parts of many of his English compositions, amongst them 2 M. and E. Services with Creed; 2 Te Deums and Magnificats, 2 Creeds, and 7 Anthems. The Add. MSS. 4900, 29246, contain 4 pieces with lute accompaniment, and Add. MSS. 17802–5 has no less than 4 Masses—'The western wynde,' 'The French Masse,' 'Be not afraide,' and 'Playn song Mass for a Mene'; 4 Alleluias, and 10 Latin Motets, all for 4 voices complete. The library of the Sacred Harmonic Society (no. 1737) possesses 4 Latin motets, and (no. 1642) a 'First Service' by him. Morley in his 'Introduction' includes him amongst 'famous Englishmen.' The date of his death is unknown. [Schools of Comp. iii. 271.]
Another John Shepherd, possibly a son of the above, was sworn a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, Dec. 1, 1606. (Rimbault's Old Chequebook, p. 43). Perhaps it was he who added a Kyrie to Johnson's service in G, in the Cathedral Library, Ely. (See Dickson's Catalogue, 32, 37.) Perhaps, also, he is the 'Thos. Shepherd' of Tudway (iv. 72).