“Pastime with good company…”

Tudor social music

Sunday 8 February 1987, 7.30pm

Loaves and Fishes Refectory
Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
Molesworth Street, Wellington

An immediate problem which faces musical historians wishing to apply generalisations to the secular music that existed in England during the 120 years between the battle of Bosworth and the death of Elizabeth I is that in reality there are two distinct musical cultures present, one at either end of the period. After Henry VIII’s death, there occurred a mark change in the function and performance of social music: the clear dividing line which had hitherto existed between court music performed by professionals and a mainly aural tradition of songs and dances performed by minstrals became blurred.

Programme

Pastime with good company: Henry VIII
Alone, alone: Anon
The short measure off my Lady Wynkfyd’s Rounde: Anon
My Lady Cary’s Dumpe: Anon
A Hornepype: Hugh Aston (attrib.)
When griping griefs: Richard Edwards
Like as the doleful dove: Thomas Tallis
Paseavase el rey moro: Luis de Narvaez
Italia Mia: Philippe Verdelot
Il bianco e dolce cigno: Jacques Arcadelt
L’innamorato: Giacomo Gastoldi

Interval

Sing we and chant it: Thomas Morley
The Silver Swan: Orlando Gibbons
A Fancy: Anthony Holborne
As it fell no a holly eve: Anthony Holborne
It was a lover and his lass: Thomas Morley
Come ye heavy states of night: John Dowland
Fine knacks for ladies: John Dowland
How my tears: John Dowland
Lachrymae Pavan: William Byrd
Alman: William Byrd
Lavolta: William Byrd
Draw on sweet night: John Wilbye
Sleep, fleshly birth: Robert Ramsey
Hard by a crystal fountain: Thomas Morley