Maurice [Morris] Webster

(fl. 1621-36)

English lutenist and composer. He was one of a number of English musicians working in north-west Germany in the early 17th century. He contributed four four-part dances to Simpson's Taffel Consort

(Hamburg, 1621). In 1625 he was listed as a member of 'The Consorte' at the funeral of James I, and in 1628 and 1631 as a musician 'for the lutes and voices', the latter reference being in connection with the purchase of lute strings. He was succeeded by Steffkin on January 2, 1636.

Webster wrote two sets of divisions for bass viol. Seven three and four-part dance pieces, a three-part fantasia, two almaines and three three-part 'echo' almaines are in MS. Several lyra viol pieces in an Irish MS are attributed to him.



IV M: England Through 1635 | Guide to English Lute Music | The English Lutenists