 For our
period, music for the dance literally took center stage:
And there is more to
it than this, for dancing is practiced to reveal whether lovers are in
good health and sound of limb, after which they are permitted to kiss their
mistresses in order that they may touch and savour one another, thus to
ascertain if they are shapely or emit an unpleasant odour as of bad meat.
Therefore, from this standpoint, quite apart from the many other advantages
to be derived from dancing, it becomes an essentially in a well ordered
society.
- Thoinot Arbeau, Orchesography (1589), trans. Mary Stewart Evans
Dances such as the ones
below filled both palace and inn. Dancing masters roamed the countryside
providing the instruction required for upward mobility and new dances to
keep their business booming. The popularity of dance helped to polarize
the views of the religious. Dancing at the crossroads became commonplace
in villages everywhere, much to the displeasure of the clergy! At the court
the pageantry of the Masque combined music,dance and drama. This spectacle
was no more exotic though than the Morris dances which were performed throughout
the land to continue ancient pagan rites. The church too produced magnificent
music during this period. As with dance music and singing were required
skills of the social climber:
Supper being ended and
musicke bookes being brought to table, the mistresse of the house presented
me with a part, earnestly requesting me to sing; but when, after many excuses,
I protested unfainedly that I could not, every one began to wonder! Yes,
some whispered to others, demanding how I was brought up; so that upon
shame of mine ignorance, I goe now to seek out mine old friend Master Gnorimus
to make myself his scholler.
-Thomas Morley, Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practical Musicke,
set downe in the Form of a Dialogue(1597).
Musical instruments were available both at tavern and at court. The viol
was like a violin. The Viola-da gamba was a stringed instrument like a
larger violin played held between the knees. The lute was a forerunner
of the mandolin with a pear shaped body. The orbo was a large lute shaped
instrument and the cittern a small lute shaped instrument. The gittern
was a lute shaped as a fiddle and the guitar- one with a flat back was
also played. Portable organs could turn up anywhere powered by hand operated
bellows. Wind instruments also included the clarion-a trumpet, the hautboy
- a shawm (an oboe like instrument shown above), the recorder and the hornpipe
(a pipe with a horn added to its end).
As can be seen in the
works of Shakespeare the ballad tradition was very important. Traveling
performers would play them and songs would be commissioned for all occasions.
A popular form developed during this period was the madrigal a choral form
where everyone could take a different part.
Add to all this the
harp and the drum and many other percussion instruments and you will find
a spectacular music which gave high drama and color to the age.
Interested in Music and Dance? Check out these links!
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