Nicholas Yonge

Nicholas Yonge was born in Lewes, exact date unknown. Between 1594 and 1618 he is mentioned in St Paul's Cathedral records as a 'singing man in the choir'.

He was editor of two important anthologies of Italian Madrigals, published for the first time with English texts in 1588 and then in 1595. These collections reflected the growing British enthusiasm during this time for Italian madrigals. Most of the English translations were made in 1583 by an 'unknown gentleman for his own delight'.

In his 1588 preface, Nicholas Yonge himself writes the following modest note:

"Since I first began to keepe house in this citie, a great number of Gentleman and Merchants of good accompt (as well of this realme as of forreine nations) have taken in good part such entertainment of pleasure, as my poore albilitie was able to afford them, both by the exercise of Musicke daily used in my house, and by furnishing them with Bookes of that kind yeerely sent me out of Italy and other places".

Nicholas Yonge died in London in 1619, leaving a wife and nine children.

Illustration shows the title page of Musica Transalpina, published by Nicholas Yonge in 1588.