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Biography

As an organist at St. Paul's, though the position as yet had not been created, Redford composed considerable music for the instrument. He served in this capacity, as well as almoner and Master of the Choristers, from 1534 until his death. He was not only a composer but a poet as well evidenced by his morality play "Wyt and Science." Interestingly and quite important is the fact that Redford's music is among the earliest English compositions for the organ that is extant. Most of his compositions, including the vocal music, betray a tendency towards instrumental music. The setting which dominated Redford's works were three voices with the plainsong cantus firmus in the bass or the middle voice. The middle voice was often exchanged between the right and the left hand. He also used the fauxbordon in relation to the plainsong. Some of Redford's compositions for the organ were scored for four parts and he occasionally experimented with rhythmic structures resulting in 3/4, 5/4 and 10/4 measures. A work which dates from Redford's lifetime, gives some indication that he attempted compositions with chromatic advances beyond the conventions of his own conservatism. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi