Annotations Part III

[Amy Wilson]

Fond greetings, all!

Here is part three of the period-song historical notes from "Reliquary of
English Song:  1250-1700," edited by Frank Hunter Potter (G. Schirmer, 1915,
1945).

Cheers,
Catelin the Patient


I Live Not Where I Love -- time of Elizabeth (1533-1603)

'Few English ballads have exceeded this one in popularity.  There are many
versions of it, and it is known all over England....The words in the text are
from Chappell's edition of the Roxburghe Ballads.'

 
It was a lover and his lass -- Thomas Morley (1557-1604)
Now is the month of Maying -- Thomas Morley (1557-1604)

'The next two songs are of peculiarly English types.  The first, which is in
"As You Like It," is an admirable example of the smooth, flowing pastoral
which was represented by the very first song of our collection (Sumer is
icumen in), and which will be found to persist through the whole course of
English music.  It is, moreover, one of the very few of the airs which were
sung in the original productions of Shakespeare's plays which are now known,
and of this small number two at least were written by Morley.  The second air,
"Now is the month of maying," is a notable example of the Fa-la or Ballet, a
form of composition for several voices, very popular at this period, and of
which Morley was a first-rate master [Note:  I've sung the madrigal version of
which he speaks -- ask me sometime about the Ren Faire filking we do to the
lyrics - C.].

'Thomas Morley, the composer of these songs, was born in 1557, was a Gentleman
of the Chapel Royal, and became organist of St. Paul's in 1591.  He died in
1603, after a life which seems to have been uneventful except for a period
about 1591, when he appears to have been a "promoter," or spy engaged in
betraying Catholics [!].  He composed many songs, madrigals, anthems and
services which are still extant.'


More to come ---