New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-03

edge of Greek and Latin and were skilful in
Spanish Italian and French" The ladies OF
Elizabeths court translated foreign works into
Latin or English. and for recreation praetIsed
flutes. citherns. pricksong and all kinds OF
music Argal the people familiar with
and fond of music. The professional practi-
TONERS outside of the Church were still looked
upon vagabonds, more or less, but all classes,
from royalty down to mendicancy, were de-
voted to music. Henry WILL being a younger
son, was first set apart for holy orders Chis
youthful eye already on the See Of Canterbury
and in the course Of study which he pursued
music was obligatory. Nevertheless. his in
clnations carried him far beyond training in
church music merely. He played the recorder.
flute and virginia., and composed songs, ballads
and church services. Anne Bulen dotted on
the compositions of Josquin des Pres, whom
Luther, no authority. esteemed higher
than all the composers that had ever lived
Edward vi made personal record OF the fact
that he had played upon the lutte in order to
display his accomplishments to the French Am
bassador in 1861. Elizabeth was vain of her
skill as a performer upon the virginia. that she
planned to be overheard by Mary Stuart's am
bassadOr, Sir James Melvil, in order that he
might carry the news to the Scottish Queen.
She played "excellently WE'LL says Sir James
but read the pretty and ingenious story in his
memoirs.
Gentlemen with a polite education were ex-
pected not only to be able to sing pricksong
q. e.. printed written music) at sight, but
also to extemporize a part In harmony with a
printed melody bass This the art Of
descant A bass viol. like the "viol de gamhoys'
on which Sir Toby boosted that his friend
Aguecheek could play. hung In the drawing
room for gentlemen visitors to entertain them
selves withal; and. II called upon, they. too
must play divisions to the pricksong which my
lady played upon the virginia.. The cithern and
gittern hung the walls Of the barber shops.
and the virginia. stood In the corner that
customers might pass the time with them while
waiting, or the barber find solace In his idle
moments. Thinkers sang catches" says Chap
pell. "milkmaids sang ballads. carriers whistled:
| each trade and even the beggars had their spe-
cial songs" In his Sylvia Sylvarum" Bacon
| left scientific discussion Of music. its psyche
| logical effects, the nature Of dissonance and
! consonance. and the character Of tho instru-
| ments most in use In his day: Michael Drayton
| gave a complete list Of the Instruments In use
at the time in his Poly Olbion' Q6l3): Shake
! speare did nothing SO prosaic, but having the
| whole field Of musical culture before hlm-the
| practice OF tho people as well the art and
| science Of the professional musicians-he opened
| up much wider and clearer vista than did my
Lord Veruam or the cataloguing poet.
The era In question was the most brilliant II
the history Of England. but Shakespeare ha.
preserved no tribute to the polite art Of the day
comparable with that which he pays to tn,
popular art in the Introduction Of illusions L
the peoples songs and dances In his plays o.
the songs and dances themselves These song.
and dances were the staple Of the group Of or
ganists and virginalists who form tho brightes
gem In EnglandS musical crown Though
clavier music was composed on tho Continen
as early as II was In England-the historical
record going much further back indeed-it va
nevertheless In England that the earliest know
collections OF compositions for keyboar,
stringed Instruments were made. These compo
sitions wero nomInally written for the virginia.
and have. therefore. called tho men wh,
wrote them virginalists rather than harpsi