A chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral in London under the Catholic Sebastian Westcote, Peter Philips left England after Westcote’s death in 1582 to study in Italy, where he was appointed organist at the English College in Rome. In 1585 he accompanied an English nobleman, Lord Thomas Paget, on a tour of Europe, and on the latter’s death in 1590 settled in Antwerp. In 1597 he entered the service of Archduke Albert, regent of the Spanish Netherlands, as an organist.

Keyboard and Other Instrumental Music
Philips was among the leading performers and composers of keyboard music of his time, with pavans, galliards and fantasies for the harpsichord as well as a significant number of intabulations (keyboard versions of existing polyphonic works by other composers). His other instrumental compositions include works for various consorts.

Sacred Vocal Music
The Catholic loyalties of Philips are reflected in his extensive list of Latin motets. He published motets for two or three voices and organ, and his first Cantiones sacrae collection of five-voice motets appeared in Antwerp in 1612 and was followed by a second collection in 1613 of eight-voice motets.

Secular Vocal Music
Philips published three sets of madrigals, setting Italian texts; other madrigals are also found in various collections.