PILKINGTON, FRANCIS

died 1638, Chester, Cheshire, Eng. English composer of lute songs and madrigals. Pilkington took a bachelor of music degree from Oxford in 1595, became a cantor at Chester cathedral in 1602, and a minor canon in 1612. His First Book of Ayres (1605) contains 21 songs for four voices or for solo voice and lute and a Pavin for Lute and Bass Viol. He published sets of madrigals in 1613 and 1624. Though not of the first rank, they are pleasing and well constructed. Particularly known is the madrigal O softly singing lute, for six voices. He also composed a number of attractive lute solos.