Thomas Ford (ca. 1580 - 1648) was an English composer, lutenist, and viola da gamba player. His most important collection is probably the Musicke of Sundrie Kindes (London, 1607), which is in two parts. The first book included lute ayres, described as "Aries for 4 voices to the Lute, Orphorion, or Basse-viol, with a Dialogue for two Voices..."; the second part contained dances such as "Pavens, Galiards, Almaines, Toies, Jigges, Thumpes, and such like..." scored for two bass viols, lyra-way. An unusual feature of his music for viol is the occasional use of a sound effect: a heavy pizzicato "thump...with the first and second finger of the left hand according to the direction of the pricks."
