Background
He was born in North Halberton, Devon, c1553.
He may have been a chorister at Exeter Cathedral.
By 1582 he was a member of the choir of Westminster Abbey where he became Master of the Choristers. Hooper appears to have been the first regularly appointed organist of the abbey; his patent, dated 19 May 1606, was renewed for life in 1616.
On 1 March 1604 Hooper became a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal. There are several references to Hooper in the Chapel Royal Cheque Book and in the Lord Chamberlain's Accounts for the period. These include allowances for mourning livery for the funerals of Queen Elizabeth I (1603), Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales (1612) and Queen Anne (1618). By November 1615 Hooper had attained the prestigious position of joint Organist of the Chapel Royal with Orlando Gibbons.
He held this position until his death on 14 July 1621. On 16 July 1621 Hooper was buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey. His widow, Margaret, was buried there on 7 March 1652.
Hooper's eldest son, James, who died in December 1652, was a lay vicar of Westminster Abbey.
Read more about this topic: Edmund Hooper (organist)
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