Tudway, Thomas

1650-1730

English church musician of the later Seventeenth and early Eighteenth Century. Became a chorister of the Chapel Royal about 1660, and in 1664 was admitted as tenor into the chapel choir at Windsor. He succeeded Henry Loosemore as organist of King's College Chapel at Cambridge, receiving his degree of Bachelor of Music in 1681. In 1705, on the occasion of Queen Anne's visit to the University of Cambridge, he won the degree of Doctor of Music by composing the anthem, Thou, O God Hast Heard Our Desire. He was also given the honorary title of composer and organist extraordinary to Queen Anne. In 1704 he had been made professor of music at the University. In 1726 he resigned his position as organist at King's College and went to London, where he died four years later. He was employed by Edward, Lord Hawley, later Earl of Oxford, to make a compilation of musical compositions, and between 1715 and 1720 made a collection now in the British Museum, which fills a half-dozen thick quarto volumes. These begin with Tallis' Dorian service, include Handel's Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate, and are evidences of his musical good taste and ability. His most important compositions are A Birthday Ode to Queen Anne and a Jubilate and Te Deum for Wimpole and the hymn, Thou, O Lord Hast Heard Our Desire, printed by Arnold.