Education
Pembroke College.
Pembroke College.
An "Anthony Holburne" entered Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1562, and it is possible that this person is the same as the composer. A Londoner of the same name was admitted to the Inner Temple Court in 1565, and again this may have been the same person. On the title page of both his books he claims to be in the service of Queen Elizabeth.
He died of a "cold" in November 1602.
He was held in the highest regard as a composer by contemporaries. John Dowland dedicated the first song I saw my lady weepe in his Second Booke to Holborne.
His patron was the Countess of Pembroke, Mary Sidney. In the 1590s he entered the service of Sir Robert Cecil, the 1st Earl of Salisbury.
Six of William"s madrigals were included in the Cittarn Schoole.
The Pavans, Galliards, Almains and other short Aeirs, both grave and light, in five parts, for Viols, Violins, or other all Winde Instruments was published in 1599 and consisted of 65 of his own compositions.