About Thomas Preston
Lived 1542 – 1563 (aged 20–21). Thomas Preston was a British organist and composer.
Thomas Preston (died c. 1563) was an English organist and composer who held posts at Magdalen College, Oxford, Trinity College, Cambridge, and St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
According to John Caldwell, his music features fine 4-part counterpoint, intricacies of rhythm, and a virtuosic approach to the keyboard, even though all the surviving music is liturgical.
Known works 12 Offertory settings for keyboard, including Felix namque, and Mass versets for Easter, containing the only known sequence setting of the time (only part of the sequence survives.)
The anonymous ground for keyboard Uppon la mi re (MB, LXVI, 1995) in the collection Add.29996 (London British Library) is often attributed to him.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Thomas Preston's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Thomas Preston?
English organist and composer
When was Thomas Preston born?
Thomas Preston was born in 1542.
When did Thomas Preston die?
Thomas Preston died in 1563 in Windsor.
What was Thomas Preston's occupation?
Thomas Preston was an organist and composer.
What nationality was Thomas Preston?
Thomas Preston was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Thomas Preston (composer)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thomas Preston. https://biography.guide/thomas-preston-organist/
MLA: "Thomas Preston." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thomas-preston-organist/.
Chicago: "Thomas Preston." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thomas-preston-organist/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:29 UTC