made that all the Parts together, or either of them, severally may be
sung to the Lute, Orpharion, or Viol da Gambo.” The year 1599 gives
us the Psalms of David, “in Metre to be sung and played on the lute,
orpharyon, citterne, or base violl,” by Richard Allison, “to be solde
at his house in the Duke’s Place near Alde-gate,” and dedicated to
the Countess of Warwick. It is interesting to note that some MS.
lute compositions of Allison’s are preserved in the British Museum.
In the same year, Thomas Morley, gentleman of the Chapel Royal and
pupil of William Byrd, “by whose endeavours,” says Anthony Wood, “he
became, not only excellent in music, as well as in the theoretical as
practical part, but also well seen in the Mathematicks in which he was
excellent,” published his “First Booke of Consorte Lessons, made by
divers exquisite Authers for six Instruments to play together,” dated
1596. The “six instruments” selected to “play together” consisted
of the “Treble Lute,” “The Pandora” (a species of bass-lute), “The
Citterne” (small guitar), “The Base violl,” “The Flute,” and “The
Treble violl.” What this mixture sounded like it is difficult to
surmise. No doubt the players sat round a large circular table with
their “parts” spread out before them; no doubt there was a fine display
of lace ruffles and graceful white hands: no doubt there were many
glances exchanged between the coquettish lady with the “Treble Lute”
and the dark man playing “The Base violl”: no doubt the beauties of the
“exquisite authors” were perhaps somewhat lost upon these two, but “The
Pandora,” “The Citterne,” “The Flute,” and the “Treble violl” were more
intent upon the music, and strummed away to their hearts’ content. Side
by side in a ring lay the parts before the performers then, but to-day,
what a strange irony of Fate it is that has scattered them about in
different museums and libraries.
In the British Museum you will find the Flute part printed by “Thomas
Snodham for John Brown” and “sold at his shop in Dunstones Church
Yard in Fleet Street 1611.” The “Trebel violl” part is preserved in
the library at Magdalen College, Oxford. “The Pandora” part is at
Christ Church, Oxford, and the “Cittern” part is in the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. The “Base Violl” part and the “Treble Lute” part
have, curiously enough, disappeared completely. Did the lady of the
“Lute” jilt the gentleman of the “Base violl” and he in a fit of
rage--consequent on the event--destroy the treacherous parts that were
the means of bringing them together; or, did they elope, live happy
ever after, and leave directions for the parts--so full of tender
reminiscences--to be buried with them?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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