Richard Davy was born in 1465. possibly in Devon. Little is known about his early life. He was a scholar of Magdalen College, Oxford, and acted as choir master and organist at least in the period 1490-2.[1] Churchwardens' accounts for Ashburton, Devon, mention a 'Dom. Richardus Dave:' from 1493-5, where he may have been acting as a chaplain or as master of the nearby school at St. Lawrence Chapel.[2] He may then have moved to Exeter Cathedral to be vicar choral in the period 1497-1506.[3]He passed away in 1507.
compositions
Davy is the second most represented composer in the Eton choirbook, with nine compositions including his most celebrated work, the Passio Domini in ramis palmarum or Passion according to St Matthew.[4] His work is considered more florid than that of his contemporaries Robert Fayrfax and William Cornysh and may have had considerable impact on later figures such as John Taverner.[5]
Sources
↑ J. Caldwell, The Oxford History of English Music (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998), pp. 196-201.
↑ I. Rumbold and J. King, ed., Musicology and sister disciplines: past, present, future: proceedings of the 16th International Congress of the International Musicological Society, London, 1997 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), p. 564.
↑ J. Caldwell, The Oxford History of English Music (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998), pp. 196-201.
↑ Sacred music from the Lambeth choirbook By Robert Fayrfax, Margaret Lyon
↑ J. Caldwell, The Oxford History of English Music (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998), pp. 196-201.
Is Richard your ancestor? Please don't go away! Login to collaborate or comment, or contact
the profile manager, or ask our community of genealogists a question.