Music in late Elizabethan England (1580-1605)

The Tudor monarchs (Henry VIII, Mary I, Edward VI and Elizabeth I) were keen on promoting native composers over foreigner guest compoosers during England's first era of nationalistic fervor. Queen Elizabeth's late father, Henry VIII was a composer in his own right and, despite his philandering habits and vindictive character, he was a great patron of music and the arts. Mary and Elizabeth listened to all kinds of music throughout their childhood and both learned to play the lute and virginal early in their lives. As princesses at the English court, they were accustomed to hearing musicians perform in sundry settings: ballrooms, gardens, churches and banquet halls. Therefore, it is no surprise that Elizabeth I, as Queen became England's most vigorous patronesse of music and sponsored the likes of William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, John Dowland, Thomas Morley, Anthony Holborne and many others. My collection of "best hits" from the English High Renaissance is only a tiny sampling of the massive repertoire that, fortunately for our generation, survived the centuries intact.