Thomas Tallis was a prominent English composer of the High Renaissance who lived from approximately 1505 to 1585. Born in Kent, he held various musical positions, including serving as an organist at Dover Priory and a singer at Canterbury Cathedral. Throughout his career, he served four different English monarchs as a composer for the Chapel Royal. His musical influence was vast, as he also held a monopoly on music printing and acted as a teacher to the famous composer William Byrd.