Elway Bevin

Elway Bevin (c.1554-1638)^[1] was a Welsh-born organist and composer.

Briefly a vicar choral at Wells Cathedral, in 1585 he was appointed Master of the Choristers at Bristol Cathedral. He was sworn a gentleman-extraordinary of the Chapel Royal on 3 June 1605, and is said to have been a pupil of Thomas Tallis.

In 1631 Bevin published the work by which he is best known, 'A Briefe and Short Instruction of the Art of Musicke...'.^[2] His music also appears in other sources: for instance, Benjamin Cosyn's 'Virginal Book' has a service by him included amongst six entitled 'These are ye Six Services for the King's Royall Chappell,' and he has works included in several manuscript collections of vocal and consort music.^[3]

References

1. Hooper, G. (2001), Collins, Denis (ed.), "Bevin, Elway.", Grove Music Online, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.02990, ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0
2. Elway Bevin (1631). A Briefe and Short Instrvction of the Art of Mvsicke, to teach how to make Diſcant, of all proportions that are in vſe: Very necessary for all ſuch that are deſirous to attaine to knowledge in the Art; And may be by practice, if they ſing, ſeone be able to compoſe three, foure, and five parts: And alſo to compoſe all ſorts of Canons that are uſuall, by theſe directions of two or three parts in one, upon Plain-ſong. Printed by R. Young, at the ſigne of the Starre on Bread-ſtreet hill.
3. Consult Bevin's DIAMM page for further details: https://www.diamm.ac.uk/people/931/

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Bevin, Elway (DNB00)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.