Tobias Hume Home Page
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In 1605 he published The first part of Ayres of which a.o. (ENGELS???) pictures (AANKLIKBAAR) of the title page and the table of contents are acquirable via these pages. The first part of Ayres are also known as Musicall Humors while this is printed at the top of every page of the 1605 publication. In the AANKLIKBAAR dedication to Lord William, Earle of Pembrooke, published in this volume, he writes that his life was devoted to soldiery, his leisure, however, to music and that he wished to offer his services in both fields to Lord William.
In 1607 he then published Captaine Hume's Poeticall Musicke of which we until now only added some texts of songs to this home page. In the AANKLIKBAAR letter to Queen Anne in this 1607 print, Tobias Hume hinted that he was living in unfortunate circumstances when he dedicates his music to her and asks her not to esteeme my Songs unmusicall, because my Fortune is out of tune ... but to patronize ... the modest ends of the Author of these uncommon Musiques.
At the end of the year of 1624 he entered the London Charterhouse as a "poor brother". This institution, formely a Charthusian monestery served as a practice ground for young soldiers and as a honorary refuge for old ones. At the same time Hume sent an (unsuccessfull) petition (AANKLIKBAAR) to Charles I, asking that he be allowed for leave to proceed to "Mickle Bury Land" [Mecklenburg?] together with what were presumably a group of mercenary soldiers apparently under the Swedish king. Afterwards Hume printed this petition, named "True Petition of Colonel Hume". From this document we learn that he had served as "Captain" in many countries, for he writes that he is an "old experienced Soldier" and has "done great services in other foreign Countries". He also appeared to have been at one time a mercenary in the service of the King of Sweden. In this last petition he offers to perform naval and military wonders against the Irish rebels. It is said that one could conclude from its contents that he was labouring under mental delusion. Unfortunately we haven't yet found the text of this petition, but if we do so, we will add it to this home page so we can conclude it for ourselves.
In 1642 he petitioned the Lords of Parliament as he could no longer bear his poverty. This petition was read before the Parliament (probably by Hume himself) for the title-page says "as it was presented to the Lords assembled in the high Court of Parliament." Furthermore, Hume writes that he is unable "to endure this misery any longer, for I want money, meat and drink and clothes..." In this petition Hume presents himself as a "colonel", although in the entry for his death in the Charterhouse Register he is still called "Captain Hume". On Wednesday, April16 1645, Tobias Hume dies in London.
Musick Tobias Hume wanted to offer something special, to set himself off from others: He wants to publish his own work and not arrangements of foreign pieces. This is indicated in the preface of the first part of Ayers where he writes: my studies are far from servile imitations, I robbe no other inventions... These are my own Phansies.
Hume's main innovations lay in the fact that he transferred known lute and bandora repetory to the viola da gamba and that he was the first to publish music for solo viola da gamba (lyra viol) as well as for several violas da gamba. The texts appearing in some of the songs reflect his personal joys, interest and problems : soldiery AANKLIKBAAR (The Soldiers Song), music, love (Tobacco, Fain would I change that note) AANKLIKBAAR as well as deep sorrow and dispair (Alas poor men; what greater greeve).
In the second volume Hume publishes a hunting song for a bass viol in alternation with a solo voice, which according to Hume "was sung before two Kings, to the admiring of all brave Huntsmen". Here Hume refers to the visit of the King of Denmark to the court of James I in 1606. It could have been that Hume was the performer of this piece, indicating his skill on the viol and his access to the court at this time. Two more pieces are dedicated in this same work: "The King of Denmarkes delight" and "King of Denmarkes health".
THe two documents The first part of Ayres and Captaine Hume's Poeticall Musicke are reprinted in 1980 by AMadeus Verlag in Winterthur (Switzerland) where one can order these manuscript (www.unibas.ch/mab/scb/prattica.htm) They appeared together as volume 2 of the series Prattica Musicale.
Link voor Viola da Gamba http://vdgsa.org/pgs/stuff.htm The full title of the Captain Humes Poeticall Musicke is: Captaine HUmes POeticall Musicke. Principally made for two Basse-Viols, yet so contriued, that it may be plaied8. seuerall waies upon sundry Instruments with much facilitie. 1 The first way or musicke is for one Basse-Viole to play alone in parts, which standeth alwaies on the right side of this Booke. 2 The second musicke is for two Basse-viols to play together. 3 The third musicke, for three Basse-Viols to play together. 4 The fourth musicke, for two Tenor Viols and a Basse-Viole. 5 The fift musicke, for two Lutes and a Basse-Viole. 6 The sixt musicke, for two Orpherions and a Basse-Viole. 7 The seventh musicke, to use the voyce to some of these musicks, but especially to the three Basse Viols, or to the two Orpherions with one Basse-Viole to play the ground. 8 The eight and last musicke, is consorting all these instruments together with the Virginals, or rather with a winde Instrument and the voice. Composed by Tobias Hume Gentleman.......................1607 This work contains three vocal compositions, "The Hunting Song", "What greater griefe" (this is merely a rearrangement of the same song from The first Part of Ayres ) NOG EENTJE: WELKE? The reamining are intrumental ensemble works, where three compositions appeared earlier in The First Part of Ayres, "The Earle of Pembroke his Galliard", "The Spirit of Gambo", and the piece "A mery conceit" which in the first volume was referred to as "Tickell Tickell". References William V. Sullivan (OPZOEKEN OP INTERNET) wrote a thesis for the University of Hawaii about Tobias Hume. Sullivan describes the life and work of Hume, and gives a complete description of the British Museum's copy of Hume's first publication First Part of Ayres . The several chapters are published sequentially in the following numbers of the Journal of the Viol da Gamba Society of America: XX Sullivan, W. V. 'Tobias Hume First Part of Ayres (1605)' JVdGSA 5(1968) pp. 5-15 6(1969) pp. 13-33 7(1970) pp. 92-111 8(1971) pp. 64-93 9(1972) pp. 16-37 Hume has written his music almost entirely in tablature. Furthermore he has added many unusual directions how to play his music, such as 'Play this pashenat (sic) ahter every strain', 'Drum this with the backe of your Bow'. Petition of Captian Humes... Had served in many foreign countries as captian, and also in the King of Sweden's wars. That King had now sent for him into Mickle Bury Land. Prays leave for himself and 120 men. If it please the King to send letters to the King of Sweden. they shall be safely delivered. In the British Museum copy of the First Part of Ayres there is a postscript, apperently in Hume's own handwriting: ""I do in all humylitie beseech your Maiesty that you would bee pleased to heare this Musick by mee, havinge excellent Instruments to performe itt." (source: Groves Dictionary of Music)
I Doe not studie Eloquence, or profess Musicke, although I doe love Sence, and affect Harmony: My Profession being, as my Education hath beene, Armes, the onely effeminate part of me, hath beene Musicke; which in mee hath beene alwayes Generous, because never Mercenarie. To prayse Musicke, were to say, the Sunne is bright. To extoll my selfe, would name my labors vaine glorious. Onely this, my studies are far from servile imitations, I robbe no others inventions, I take no Italian Note to an English dittie, or filch fragments of Songs to stoffe out my volumes. These are mine own Phansies expressed by my proper Genius, which if thou dost dislike, let me seen thine, Carpere vel noli nostra, vel ede tua, Now to use a modest shortness, and a briefe expression of my selfe to all noble spirites, thus, My title espresseth my Bookes Contents, which (if my Hopes faile me not) shall not deceive their expectation, in whose approvement the crowne of my labors resteth. And from henceforth, the statefull instrument Gambo Violl shall with ease yeelde full various and as devicefull Musicke as the Lute. For here I protest the Trinitie of Musicke, parts, Passion and Division, to be as gracefully united in the Gambo Violl, as in the most received Instrument that is, which here with a Souldiers Resolution, I give up to to the acceptance of al noble dispositions.
The friend of his friend,
Tobias Hume.
SIR, Art and the love of Art continually are leagude together, It shall be no dishoner therefore for your height to imbrace the humblest endevors of those that seeke not you but your vertues: For mine own side I have beene traind up without the verge of Complement, nor can I phrase the zeale I beare you in swelling discourses. My Life hath beene a Souldier, and my idlenes addicted to Musicke, of both which I here doe offer the service to your best worthy selfe. The Acceptance I feare not, since I know great heartes are as farre from contempt, as from basenes. I rest the servant of your vertues.
Tobias Hume
I cease to offend your delicate eare with my harsh style, and therefore kissing the ground that sustaineth your Sacred person. I ever rest
The hublest of your subiects,
Tobias Hume
For those who want to hear what this page is all about. Both these were taken from the CD `The Spirit of Gambo'. Sung by Emma Kirkby and played by Paolo Pandolfo and `Labyrinto':
As far as we know only tree CD's exist with music of the great composer Tobias Hume (1569-1645) before 1996. The contents of these CD's are given here. The last one appeared only last year and deserves therefore a special annotation: The spirit of Gambo. And there exist also some CD's with only 1 or 2 numbers on Hume (such as A Musicall Dreame).