Renaissance: Anthony Holborne

Anthony Holborne (1545 – 1602) was an English composer of consort- and lute music and music for Cittern, a mandolin-like instrument. He studied law in Cambridge and was admitted to the lawyers’ guild The Inner Temple

Being a lawyer did not prevent him from composing music, resulting in a method for Cittern and a collection of over 65 pieces for Consort, Lute and Bandora. History stated that he died of a heavy cold that he caught while performing courier services for Queen Elizabeth I.

The fact that his famous contemporary John Dowland dedicated one of his collection of lute works to Holborne illustrates that the latter was a famous composer in his days.