William Corkine

William Corkine
(fl 1610–17). English composer. The dedication of his first collection (1610) to Sir Edward Herbert (later Lord Herbert of Cherbury) and Sir William Hardy suggests that he served his apprenticeship under them.

Little is otherwise known of his life. A receipt dated 2 February 1612 shows that he performed with John Dowland and Richard Goosey at a Candlemas entertainment at the Middle Temple. In 1617 he was one of a group of musicians given permission to go and work at the Polish court.

Corkine's books of Ayres contain both songs and pieces for the lyra viol. Most of the songs have an accompaniment for lute and bass viol, but some of those in the second book are accompanied by bass viol only; the wording on the title-page, ‘to the Base-Violl alone’, seems to preclude the addition of a chordal continuo part. Some of Corkine's songs, such as Some can flatter and Sweet restraine these showers of kindnes, recall the ‘light airs’ of Thomas Campion, with their simple textures and flowing groups of two notes per syllable. Corkine's graceful melodic style, with its happy use of sequence, is heard at its best in What booteth love. Other songs, however, such as the setting of Donne's Tis true tis day, foreshadow the new declamatory style in their wayward melodic contours and irregular rhythms. Corkine's music for the lyra viol, which is intabulated and chordal like that of the lute, consists of dances and variations on popular grounds. His settings of Walsingham and Come live with me and be my love represent early high points in the repertory of the lyra viol.