OKELAND, ROBERT. Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, -1544 - 1548-; [composer]

Robert ` was a clerk at Eton College, paid 5s for half a term during 1531-2 and 30s for his service the following year. It seems he left around mid-January 1533/4 since he was paid lOs 6d 10r one term and two weeks only. During February he took up the post of organist at St Mary-at-Hill, London, where he remained until 8 Aug 1535. By 1543-4 he had become one of the gentlemen of the Chapel Royal and attended the coronation of Edward VI and funeral of Henry VIII (20-21 Feb 1546/7). In July 1548 the king 'intended to give him' 'le Roode Chappell of Grenewyche' in half an acre of ground, but at Okeland's request this was transferred to Anne Knevett. He probably died before the end of Edward's reign since he does not appear in the 1553 funeral and coronation lists. His surviving music embraces both Catholic and Anglican rites.

Music: Kyrie a4; anthems: Prayse we the Father; Prayse we the Lord O our Souls. [Sources in EECM Supps. 1 & 2; NG]

[Baillie; NG; RECM VII; D. Mateer, 'The "Gyffard" Partbooks: Composers, Owners, Date and Provenance', RMARC 28 (1995), 21-50]

[A.A.]