Giles Farnaby was born about 1565 although the actual date is not known. Because his music does not occur in The Triumphs of Orialla, many scholars believed his death to be about 1600, but recent investigation puts it much later, probably around 1630. Barnaby received a Bachelor of Music degree at Oxford in 1592. His last known musical compositions date from 1625, but they are not complete. As a writer for the virginal, his work was of a high standard and amount with almost fifty separate pieces. Yet, Thurston Dart correctly pointed out in the 1962 revision of Fellowes’ edition (1), that the quality found in the music of Giles Farnaby may be attributed to his “freshness and gusto” rather than his technical skills.
Possibly his most important set of music was his Canzonets to Four Voices, published in 1598. There are twenty canzonets whose texts speak on various situations of love and/or passion. Some of the stylistic characteristics of Farnaby’s canzonets are his lack of concern over the use of parallel fifths, octaves, etc.; his sometimes striking use of chromaticism; and his frequently complex rhythmic designs.
Certain characteristics may be observed in the twenty cazonets of Giles Farnaby:
1. Lack of solid technical writing skills typical of other contemporaries.
2. Inventive and fresh settings.
3. Consistent use of imitation.
4. All had four voices but the exact classification varies.
5. Wide ranges occur, especially in inner voices.
6. Most canozet settings are brief.
7. Chromaticism abounds.
8. Texts concern love (passion).
9. Syllabic setting of text dominates.
10. Text (word) painting moderately employed.
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