William Mundy

William Mundy was an English composer of sacred vocal music. Little is known of Mundy's life, but it is known that he served as a Gentleman of the Chapel under Queen Elizabeth and so enjoyed some renown during his lifetime. At least one writer praised him as the second greatest composer of the age, after William Byrd. Mundy's music exhibits a wide range of styles, from the older Latin antiphon tradition to the modern English verse anthem. Though his compositions are based on the current syllabic style of text setting, with restrained and tightly controlled counterpoint, Mundy often indulges in elaborate passage-work, especially at the end of a piece.