William Parsons (composer and copyist)

William Parsons (fl. 1545 – 1563) was an English composer and copyist from Wells, Somerset.

Old 100th psalm tune in the tenor voice by William Parsons. This, the oldest known English harmonization of the tune, was first published in Day's Whole Booke of Psalmes and widely republished thereafter.[1]

Nothing is known of his early life. His name appears for the first time in the register of vicars-choral at Wells in 1555. Payments received by him around this time suggest that he was also employed as composer and copyist to the Wells Cathedral.

Only a few of his compositions survive and most are incomplete. Among them can be cited an Easter antiphon Christus resurgens in two sections, based on a Sarum Rite plainchant; and a motet Anima Christi for three voices, which was originally just one section of a much longer motet for six voices.

William Parsons is believed to be the same "W. Parsons" who composed 81 out of the 141 settings in John Day's The Whole Psalmes in Foure Parts. The Flatt Service by "Mr. Parsons of Wells" was also probably written by him; the location was added to distinguish him from "Mr. Parsons of Exeter", whose music features in the same source.