THE EAST FAMILY HISTORY
In celebration of 15 years in existence we reprint an item from our first edition
POINTS EAST- SPRING 1993, page 10
In celebration of 15 years in existence we reprint an item from our first edition
POINTS EAST-
Michael Est (also spelt Est, Este, Easte)
(1580? - 1680?)
Thought to have been a son of the printer, Thomas East, Michael was a composer of madrigals in the 17th century. His first work appears to have been "Hence, stars too dim of light" published in 1603, in honour of Queen Elizabeth.
When later compositions were published his name's spelling varied from Est to Este to East, according to the Dictionary of National Biography. He was a retainer of Lady Hatton, widow of Sir Christopher Hatton, in 1606 when his second set of madrigals was publislied. By 1610 when his third set of compositions appeared he was a "Batchelar of Musicke", and at some time during the next eight years he became master of the choristers of Lichfield Cathedral. From the dedication of his sixth set of Bookes, wherein are Anthemes for Verses and Chorus of Five and Six Parts etc. to the Bishop of Lincoln. It appears that Michael had secured a life pension from the Bishop.
His last composition seems to have been in 1638, which work was re-issued in 1653.
Just how important Michael's work was considered at the time is not known, but as he was quite young compared with the masters of the madrigal form, and some of his work deviated from the accepted form, he may have been an important link between them and the school of Henry Purcell.
Sir James Buller East
1789- 1878
Sir James was the eldest son of Sir Edward Hyde East, and was born in Bloomsbury 1st February, 1789. He was called to the bar of the Inner Temple in February 1789. He succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his father in 1847. He married Caroline Eliza Leigh 27th June 1822. He sat as M.P. for Winchester 1830-1832, and 1835-1864. He was both magistrate and deputy-Lieutenant, Gloucestershire and magistrate for Oxfordsliire.
