Editing John Jenkins (composer) (section)

==Biography==
Little is known of his early life. The son of Henry Jenkins, a carpenter who occasionally made musical instruments, he may have been the "Jack Jenkins" employed in the household of [[Anne Russell, Countess of Warwick]] in 1603. The first positive historical record of Jenkins is amongst the musicians who performed the [[masque]] ''The Triumph of Peace'' in 1634 at the court of King [[Charles I of England|Charles I]]. Jenkins was considered a virtuoso on the [[lyra viol]].  Charles commented that Jenkins did "wonders on an inconsiderable instrument."<ref>The Consort Music of William Lawes, 1602–1645, John Patrick Cunningham, page 184</ref>

When the [[English Civil War]] broke out in 1642 it forced Jenkins, like many others, to migrate to the rural countryside. During the 1640s he was employed as music-master to two [[Cavalier|Royalist]] families, the Derham family at [[West Dereham]] and [[Hamon le Strange]] of [[Hunstanton]].  He was also a friend of the composer [[William Lawes]] (1602–1645), who was shot and died in battle at the siege of [[Chester]].

Around 1640 Jenkins revived the ''[[In Nomine]]'', an archaic form for a consort of viols, based upon a traditional [[plainsong]] theme.  He wrote a notable piece of [[programme music]] consisting of a [[pavane]] and [[galliard]] depicting the clash of opposing sides, the mourning for the dead and the celebration of victory after the siege of [[Newark-on-Trent|Newark]] (1646).

In the 1650s Jenkins became resident music-master of [[Dudley North, 4th Baron North|Lord Dudley North]] in Cambridgeshire, whose son Roger wrote his biography. It was in these years, during the Commonwealth under [[Oliver Cromwell]], in the absence of much competition or organised music-making, that Jenkins took the occasion to write more than 70 suites for amateur household players.

After the [[English Restoration|Restoration]] he obtained a place as a musician to the Royal Court. Although the viol consort was less fashionable in the court of king [[Charles II of England|Charles II]], [[Roger North (17th century)|Roger North]] wrote:

:''Tho' he for many years was incapable to attend, the Court musicians had so much value for him, that advantage was not taken, but he received his salary as they were paid''.

Something of Jenkins's own temperament is indicated by his setting the religious poetry of [[George Herbert]] to music.   Like [[Joseph Haydn]], he was a pious, reticent, and private person.  Workmanlike and industrious in composition, he wrote dances ''by the cart-load'' according to North, who also stated –

:''he was certainly a happy person,....of an easy temper, superior in his profession, well accepted by all, knew no want, saw himself outrun by the world, and having lived a good Christian, died in peace''.

Jenkins is buried in the nave of St. Peter's Church, Kimberley, [[Norfolk]], with this inscription:
 	
::''Under this Stone Rare Jenkins lie''
::''The Master of the Musick Art''
::''Whom from the Earth the God on High''
::''Called up to Him to bear his part.''
::''Aged eighty six October twenty seven''
::''In anno seventy eight he went to Heaven.''