Alfonso Ferrabosco

Elizabethan Composer and Court Musician

Alfonso Ferrabosco the elder (1543–1588) was an Italian composer who spent much of his career in England. He was born in Bologna and is known for his influence on the development of English consort music during the Elizabethan era. Ferrabosco was employed at the court of Queen Elizabeth I and composed music that was highly regarded by his contemporaries. His works include vocal and instrumental compositions, with a significant contribution to the repertoire of consort music, which is typically written for a family of viols. His music exhibits a blend of Italian and English stylistic elements, and he played a key role in introducing Italian madrigal forms to England. Ferrabosco's compositions were often complex and innovative for their time, and his legacy includes influencing English composers such as William Byrd and Thomas Morley. Although specific albums like "English Consort Music," "Consort Music To The Viols In 4, 5 & 6 Parts," or "Consort Music" may refer to collections of his work, it is important to note that during Ferrabosco's lifetime, music was not distributed in album format as we understand it today; rather, it would have been published in collections or manuscripts or performed live.