Giles Farnaby came of a musical family and graduated at Oxford in 1592, though he probably lived in London. He wrote psalms--contributing to Ravenscroft's Psalms--and motets and published some canzonets, but is most notable for his virginal music, 52 pieces of his being included in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book. There are fantasias, dances and variations and a number of 'genrepieces'--a type Farnaby seemed to make his own, heading them with fanciful titles like His Humour and Farnaby's Dreame. The first of these gives a whimsical picture of his character, mixing playful melody with chromaticism and jibing at earnest contrapuntal elaboration.