Humfrey was a short-lived English composer who began his musical career as a chorister in the Chapel Royal until 1664. Then he travelled to France and Italy and made probable contact with Lully and Carissimi respectively. Their infuence was present in Humfrey's music. In 1667 he became a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal as well as the composer for the royal band of violins. This position had been maintained by Cooke whom he succeeded. As the Master of the children, and composer for the Private Musick Humphrey also became a leading figure in the corporation of musick. It is certainly probable that Humfrey taught Purcell composition as he was literally 'noted' in Purcell's "The Tempest." Purcell employed settings and quoted at least one direct phrase from Humfrey's "Aeolus." Musically Humphrey succeeded in consolidating the English Baroque style. He wrote nineteen verse anthems, combined current trends with influences from the French Lully, and the Italian Carissimi, and with powerful expressive langauge. Humfrey composed twenty seven songs most of which were secular. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi