Farrant, John (1592-1607)

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Fasti Herefordenses:Vicar choral also organist, Hereford cathedral 1592; "sconced for 'railing and contumelious speeches to Mr Custos in the hall at supper time'. He was not perpetuated.

Several accounts of a John Farrant, organist, choir master and composer are given in a variety of publications; the most useful summary (and one which may be nearest to the truth about this man) seems to be Dictionary of Composers for the Church in Great Britain and Ireland by Maggie Humphreys and Robert Evans, 1997. Entry under John Farrant says that scholars have had difficulty in distinguishing between the careers of an unknown number of 16th and 17th century composers of surname Farrant. A John Farrant, very probably this one, was master of choristers and lay clerk at Salisbury by Oct.1571; also organist there in 1587 [a younger JF a boy chorister there 1585]; dismissed after attempted murder of the dean (his wife's uncle), fled to Hereford where he was organist and in orders as vicar choral, resigning both in 1593 [after further indiscretions]. Very probable that had been organist at Ely 1566-8, at Bristol 1570-1. Vicar choral at Wells around 1593-9, and rector of Allerton, Somerset until 1607; organist of Christ's Hospital Newgate Street, London from 1607 until possibly 1634. [The younger JF not likely to have been in orders, organist at Salisbury around 1598 to 1606 and 1611-16, died in 1618]. These appointments also fit in with histories of Salisbury Cathedral, its organists and musicians in, for example, www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/worship-music-father-willis-organ/previous; www.of choristers.net/Chapters/Salisbury.htm; [both accessed 30 Oct. 2015] Watkins Shaw 'The Succession of Organists', Oxford 1991 p. 260;

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