Anne Cromwell's Virginal Book is a manuscript keyboard compilation dated 1638.[1] Whilst the importance of the music it contains is not high, it reveals the sort of keyboard music that was being played in the home at this time.[2]
The upright quarto book originally contained 51 pages, five of which have been torn out. It retains its original calf binding with gold tooling, and the initials A.C. are stamped on both back and front covers. The verso of the title page bears a table of note values and four lines of verse:
Fouer moodes in musicke you shall find to bee But two you only use which heare you see Devided from the sembreefe to the quaver Which you with ease may larne if you endevour
Each of the following 33 pages bears eight sets of six-line ruled staves on which are fifty short pieces of music, written in at least two hands. The remaining pages are blank apart from the last, on the verso of which is written:
This Book was my Grandmothers Ann Daughter and Coheiresse of Henry Cromwell Esqr. of Upwood in Count. Huntingdon & was dated 1638 But somebody has torn out þe [the] Leaf.
Anne Cromwell was born in 1618, the youngest child of Henry Cromwell († 1630) of Upwood, now in Cambridgeshire. Henry was the brother of Robert Cromwell (c. 1570-1617), the father of Oliver Cromwell, making Ann a first cousin of the Lord Protector.[1] Anne later married John Neale of Dean, Bedfordshire. Her Coheiresse (above) was her sister Elizabeth Cromwell (born 1616) who with Anne may have had a hand in the writing of the manuscript.
Contentsedit
The pieces contained in the manuscript are relatively simple, and written for the amateur performer. Most are anonymous, and consist of songs, dances, psalms and symphonies (masque music). Only nine pieces are attributed, of which six are to Simon Ives (1600-1662),[3] one to John Ward, one to Bulstrode Whitelocke and one to (possibly) Thomas Holmes († 1638). However composers of some of the other pieces can be identified from other sources, and include John Bull, John Dowland and Henry Lawes. The contents (maintaining the original spelling) are as follows:
^ abAustern, Linda Phyllis; McBride, Kari Boyd (2016-04-15). Psalms in the Early Modern World. Routledge. pp. 109–111. ISBN978-1-317-07399-4.
^Hinson, Maurice; Roberts, Wesley (2013-12-03). Guide to the Pianist's Repertoire, Fourth Edition. Indiana University Press. p. 1106. ISBN978-0-253-01023-0.
^Winkler, Amanda Eubanks (2020-06-04). Music, Dance, and Drama in Early Modern English Schools. Cambridge University Press. p. 109. ISBN978-1-108-49086-3.
anne, cromwell, virginal, book, manuscript, keyboard, compilation, dated, 1638, whilst, importance, music, contains, high, reveals, sort, keyboard, music, that, being, played, home, this, time, contents, manuscript, author, contents, also, references, further,. Anne Cromwell s Virginal Book is a manuscript keyboard compilation dated 1638 1 Whilst the importance of the music it contains is not high it reveals the sort of keyboard music that was being played in the home at this time 2 Contents 1 The manuscript 2 The author 3 Contents 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Further readingThe manuscript editThe upright quarto book originally contained 51 pages five of which have been torn out It retains its original calf binding with gold tooling and the initials A C are stamped on both back and front covers The verso of the title page bears a table of note values and four lines of verse Fouer moodes in musicke you shall find to beeBut two you only use which heare you seeDevided from the sembreefe to the quaverWhich you with ease may larne if you endevourEach of the following 33 pages bears eight sets of six line ruled staves on which are fifty short pieces of music written in at least two hands The remaining pages are blank apart from the last on the verso of which is written This Book was my Grandmothers Ann Daughter and Coheiresse of Henry Cromwell Esqr of Upwood in Count Huntingdon amp was dated 1638 But somebody has torn out the the Leaf The book is currently in Museum of LondonThe author editAnne Cromwell was born in 1618 the youngest child of Henry Cromwell 1630 of Upwood now in Cambridgeshire Henry was the brother of Robert Cromwell c 1570 1617 the father of Oliver Cromwell making Ann a first cousin of the Lord Protector 1 Anne later married John Neale of Dean Bedfordshire Her Coheiresse above was her sister Elizabeth Cromwell born 1616 who with Anne may have had a hand in the writing of the manuscript Contents editThe pieces contained in the manuscript are relatively simple and written for the amateur performer Most are anonymous and consist of songs dances psalms and symphonies masque music Only nine pieces are attributed of which six are to Simon Ives 1600 1662 3 one to John Ward one to Bulstrode Whitelocke and one to possibly Thomas Holmes 1638 However composers of some of the other pieces can be identified from other sources and include John Bull John Dowland and Henry Lawes The contents maintaining the original spelling are as follows A Preludium John Bull A Psalme Mrs Villers Sport Besse A Bell Daphny The Building of Polles The French Balletto A French Tuckato Fortune my foe In the dayes of old Frogges Galliard John Dowland untitled Mr Wards Masque John Ward The Princes Masque A Toy The Queens Masque The New Nightingall The Meiry Companion An Ayre The Meiry Milke maide Simphony The Queenes Galiard Simphony Simphony A Corranto A Masque The Meiry old man The Healthes The Sheepeard The Duke of Buckeinghams Masque The Milke maide The wiches Symphony The Choyce by Mr Ives Simon Ives untitled Mr W M delight Simon Ives The Scotch tune The Blaseing Torch Mr Holmes Coranto Thomas Holmes untitled Mr Whitelockes Coranto Bulstrode Whitelocke Simphony by Mr Ives Simon Ives Among the Mirtills Henry Lawes untitled An almon by Mr Ive Simon Ives A Coranto by Mr Ive Simon Ives A Coranto by Mr Ive Simon Ives The Maide A Simphony by Mr Ive Simon Ives al doneSee also editThe Mulliner Book The Dublin Virginal Manuscript My Ladye Nevells Booke Susanne van Soldt Manuscript Clement Matchett s Virginal Book Fitzwilliam Virginal Book Parthenia Priscilla Bunbury s Virginal Book Elizabeth Rogers Virginal BookReferences edit a b Austern Linda Phyllis McBride Kari Boyd 2016 04 15 Psalms in the Early Modern World Routledge pp 109 111 ISBN 978 1 317 07399 4 Hinson Maurice Roberts Wesley 2013 12 03 Guide to the Pianist s Repertoire Fourth Edition Indiana University Press p 1106 ISBN 978 0 253 01023 0 Winkler Amanda Eubanks 2020 06 04 Music Dance and Drama in Early Modern English Schools Cambridge University Press p 109 ISBN 978 1 108 49086 3 Further reading edit Anne Cromwell s Virginal Book 1638 Transcribed and edited by Howard Ferguson Oxford University Press 1974 ISBN 0 19 372637 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Anne Cromwell 27s Virginal Book amp oldid 1200646203, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
