The first appearance of his name as a printer occurs in the registers of the company in 1576, when he issued Robinson's Christmas Recreacons of Histories and Moralizacons applied for our solace and consolacons.
[3] In 1589 Byrd's Songs of Sundrie Natures and the first book of his Cantiones Sacræ were published by East (at the sign of the Black Horse in Aldersgate Street).
In the following year the same composer contributed two madrigals to Thomas Watson's First Sett of Italian Madrigalls Englished,[4] as he had previously done in the case of Musica Transalpina.
Compiled by sondry authors who haue so laboured heerin, that the vnskilful with small practice may attaine to sing that part which is fittest for their voice.From this it is plain that the psalter is an early example of what musicians now call "score" as distinguished from the "part-books", each of which contained a separate part, so that a whole set of books was always necessary before a madrigal or other composition contained in them could be sung.
On 22 Sep of that year A brief introduction to the skill of songe concerning the practise sett forth by William Bath, gent., was transferred to East from Abel Jeffes, by whom it had been printed in 1584, and on 24 Nov he issued George Kirbye's madrigals.
In 1597 Nathaniell Patrick's Songs of Sundry Natures were published, and an oration delivered by Dr. John Bull at Gresham College was printed, as well as the second edition of Musica Transalpina.
This fact, taken in connection with the circumstance that East's name does not appear on the register of the Stationers' Company until 1600, may mean that he had had a difference with Morley, who now had it in his power to injure his business.
Whether or not this were the case it is impossible to decide, but the difference, if such existed, was not of long duration, for in July 1600 Dowland's Second Book of Songs appeared, from East's press.
Jones's First Book of Ayres was issued in the next year, when the great collection of madrigals called The Triumphs of Oriana was printed, though not published.
If Hawkins's account of the circumstances under which the English collection was made in honour of Queen Elizabeth be true, the idea originated with the Earl of Nottingham, to whom the collection is dedicated, and who, with a view to alleviate the queen's concern for the execution of Essex, gave for a prize subject to the poets and musicians of the time the beauty and accomplishments of his royal mistress.
This last circumstance would account for the fact, which seems to have been alike unknown to Hawkins and to Hawes, the editor of the reprint of the collection, that The Triumphs of Oriana was not actually published till after the queen's death in 1603.
The publications of 1604 are Michael East's first set of madrigals, &c., the First Book of Songs or Ayres of four parts, composed by Ff.
The remaining books which are undoubtedly of East's printing are Byrd's Gradualia, 1605, Youll's Canzonets, and Croce's Musica Sacra, 1607.
It was only when Snodham achieved international fame through his publication of 62 Anglican Chants in B flat minor for men's voices that his name appeared on his title-pages.