Giles Farnaby

Giles Farnaby was an English composer and keyboard player from the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods, active around the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He's best known for his work as one of the standout composers featured in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, a major collection of keyboard music from the era. Farnaby's pieces often stand out for their playful, inventive character and rich counterpoint, and he wrote a mix of fantasias, dances, and character pieces with colorful titles like "Giles Farnabys Dreame" and "Fitt's Delight."

Interestingly, unlike many of his contemporaries, Farnaby wasn’t a professional musician by trade for much of his life—he was trained as a joiner (a type of woodworker). Still, his music shows a natural talent and creative spark that has kept his work alive in early music circles to this day. He remains a favorite among harpsichordists and fans of Renaissance keyboard music.

Genres

Medieval

Latest Release

Musik für Cembalo und Virginal: Giles Farnaby: Rosasolis, FVB 143 (Music for Harpsichord and Virginal)

Giles Farnaby

Single - Released December 20, 2024