Recent attempts have been made to distinguish between the English composers William Cornysh, who died in 1502, proposed as the church composer represented in the Eton Choirbook, and the younger William Cornysh, possibly son of the former. The younger composer, who died in 1523 and to whom Latin church music has been attributed, perhaps wrongly, was seemingly known primarily for the secular music he provided for royal occasions. He was Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal from 1509 and also served as a performer, playwright and courtier under Henry VII and Henry VIII.

Secular Vocal Music

The younger William Cornysh is known for a number of popular secular part-songs, contributions to a popular form of music at the time.