Orlando Gibbons came from a musical family and was a chorister between 1596-8 and then a student between 1599-1603 at King's College, Cambridge.

He joined the Chapel Royal in about 1603 and was one of its organists by 1615 (senior organist, 1625). In 1619 he became a virginal player at court and in 1623 he was appointed organist at Westminster Abbey.

Gibbons took a MusB degree at Cambridge in 1606 and a Doctorate at Oxford in 1622). One of the most important English composers of sacred music in the early 17th century, he wrote several Anglican services, popular in their day, and over 30 anthems, some imposing and dramatic (e.g. O clap your hands), others colourful and most expressive (See, the word is incarnate; This is the record of John).

Gibbons' instrumental music, also important, included over 30 elaborate contrapuntal viol fantasias and over 40 masterly keyboard pieces. His madrigals (1612) are generally serious in tone (such as The Silver Swanne).