SHORT HISTORY OF MUSIC IN ENGLAND
CHAPTER I
MUSIC BEFORE AND DURING THE REFORMATION
England at one time musical and "merrie"—England before the Reformation—Out-door life—Natural dramatic instincts—Isolation of country districts in early days—Performances of itinerant minstrels—Ban of the Church—Gradual improvement—Effect of the wars of the Roses—Early perfection of sacred music—Difficult times after repudiation of Rome by Henry VIII.—His policy and that of Queen Elizabeth—Edward VI. and his sisters—Popular anger against the monks—Dissolution of monasteries natural result amongst uneducated people—Tallis entrusted to write music for reformed services—Orlando Gibbons and Henry Purcell—Early secular music—Old-time music occasionally traceable now in country districts—Ancient instruments—Effect on English music by those returning from the Crusades—Effect on criminal population—The status of the musical composer compared with that of the "musician"—Conclusion.
England was musical—once upon a time.[1]
At least, if it be not too great a strain on our credulity, we must believe so.
England was "merrie"[2]—once upon a time. At least, we read so.
It must have been long ago, and the art long lost.