This article is about the music anthology. For the Roman Catholic titular, see Partenia.
Parthenia or the Maydenhead of the first musicke that ever was printed for the Virginalls was, as the title states, the first printed collection of music for keyboard in England. 'Virginals' was a generic word at the time that covered all plucked keyboard instruments – the harpsichord, muselaar and virginals, but most of the pieces are also suited for the clavichord and chamber organ. Though the date is uncertain, it was probably published around 1612. The 21 pieces included are ascribed to William Byrd, John Bull, and Orlando Gibbons, in three sections.
The title Parthenia comes from the Greek parthenos meaning "maiden" or "virgin." The music is written for the Virginals, the etymology of which is unknown, but may either refer to the young girls who are often shown playing it, or from the Latin virga, which means "stick" or "wand", possibly referring to part of the mechanism that plucks a string in the harpsichord family of instruments. The "Maydenhead" refers to the maiden voyage or, in this case, the first printing of Parthenia. The dedication to the first edition opens with the phrase: The virgin PARTHENIA (whilst yet I may) I offer up to your virgin Highnesses.
Parthenia was printed and sold by G.Lowe of Lothbury, a district of the City of London populated by coppersmiths since the Middle Ages.[1] The music was engraved on copper plates by William Hole. This was the first time that engraving was used for English music scores,[2] although engraved music had been printed on the continent from the late 16th century.
The use of movable type had proved satisfactory for vocal music in particular. However, movable type does not work well with keyboard music. Engraving offers potentially better results. For reasons that are not clear, Parthenia did not take full advantage of the new technology. The music is difficult to sight-read as the notes are not positioned vertically in relation to their values. Perhaps this reflects inability to read music on the part of Hole or, as some commentators have suggested, the work was published as a record rather than for practical performance.
Dateedit
The presumed first edition of Parthenia is undated. However, its dedication suggests it was probably published around 1612.
This couple was betrothed in December 1612 and married in February 1613. Frederick and Elizabeth subsequently left England, and a further printing in 1613 promptly changed the dedication to read: Dedicated to all the Maisters and Louers of Musick. The last printing was made in 1659.
Symbolismedit
The dedication refers to the use of the notes "E" and "F" in the music of Parthenia. In this context, "E" refers to Elizabeth Stuart, "F" to Frederick V. The dedication has the phrase
...these next neighbour letters E and F the vowell that makes so sweet a consonãt Her notes so linkt and wedded togeither seeme liuely Hierogliphicks of the harmony of mariage [sic], the high and holy State wherinto you shortly must be incorporat.
The linking of the two letters/notes is evident in the Orlando Gibbons movement The Queenes Command in which he begins the piece with the notes E and F and uses these notes to start future measures or to tie measures together.
(BK numbers refer to Musica Britannica: William Byrd Keyboard Music, ed. Alan Brown (London: Stainer & Bell, 2 vols, 1969/71)) 1. Preludium, BK1 2. Pavana Sir William Petre, BK3a 3. Galiardo Sir William Petre, BK3b 4. Preludium, BK24 5. Galiardo Mris Marye Brownlo, BK34 6. Pavana Earle of Salisbury, BK15a 7. Galiardo Earle of Salisbury, BK15b 8. Galiardo Secundo Earle of Salisbury, BK15c
John Bull
9. Preludium 10. Pavana St. Thomas Wake 11. Galiardo St. Thomas Wake 12. Pavana 13. Galiardo 14. Galiardo 15. Galiardo
Orlando Gibbons
16. Galiardo 17. Fantazia of Foure Parts 18. The Lord Salisbury his Pavin 19. Galiardo 20. The Queenes Command 21. Preludium
parthenia, music, this, article, about, music, anthology, roman, catholic, titular, partenia, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged. This article is about the music anthology For the Roman Catholic titular see Partenia This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Parthenia music news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Parthenia or the Maydenhead of the first musicke that ever was printed for the Virginalls was as the title states the first printed collection of music for keyboard in England Virginals was a generic word at the time that covered all plucked keyboard instruments the harpsichord muselaar and virginals but most of the pieces are also suited for the clavichord and chamber organ Though the date is uncertain it was probably published around 1612 The 21 pieces included are ascribed to William Byrd John Bull and Orlando Gibbons in three sections The title Parthenia comes from the Greek parthenos meaning maiden or virgin The music is written for the Virginals the etymology of which is unknown but may either refer to the young girls who are often shown playing it or from the Latin virga which means stick or wand possibly referring to part of the mechanism that plucks a string in the harpsichord family of instruments The Maydenhead refers to the maiden voyage or in this case the first printing of Parthenia The dedication to the first edition opens with the phrase The virginPARTHENIA whilst yet I may I offer up to your virgin Highnesses Contents 1 Music engraving 2 Date 3 Symbolism 4 Contents 4 1 List of pieces 5 Sequel 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksMusic engraving editParthenia was printed and sold by G Lowe of Lothbury a district of the City of London populated by coppersmiths since the Middle Ages 1 The music was engraved on copper plates by William Hole This was the first time that engraving was used for English music scores 2 although engraved music had been printed on the continent from the late 16th century The use of movable type had proved satisfactory for vocal music in particular However movable type does not work well with keyboard music Engraving offers potentially better results For reasons that are not clear Parthenia did not take full advantage of the new technology The music is difficult to sight read as the notes are not positioned vertically in relation to their values Perhaps this reflects inability to read music on the part of Hole or as some commentators have suggested the work was published as a record rather than for practical performance Date editThe presumed first edition of Parthenia is undated However its dedication suggests it was probably published around 1612 To the high and mighty Frederick Elector Palatine of the Reine and his betrothed Lady Elizabeth the only daughter of my Lord the king This couple was betrothed in December 1612 and married in February 1613 Frederick and Elizabeth subsequently left England and a further printing in 1613 promptly changed the dedication to read Dedicated to all the Maisters and Louers of Musick The last printing was made in 1659 Symbolism editThe dedication refers to the use of the notes E and F in the music of Parthenia In this context E refers to Elizabeth Stuart F to Frederick V The dedication has the phrase these next neighbour letters E and F the vowell that makes so sweet a consonat Her notes so linkt and wedded togeither seeme liuely Hierogliphicks of the harmony of mariage sic the high and holy State wherinto you shortly must be incorporat The linking of the two letters notes is evident in the Orlando Gibbons movement The Queenes Command in which he begins the piece with the notes E and F and uses these notes to start future measures or to tie measures together Contents editMany of the pieces are dances the pavane and galliard List of pieces edit William Byrd BK numbers refer to Musica Britannica William Byrd Keyboard Music ed Alan Brown London Stainer amp Bell 2 vols 1969 71 1 Preludium BK1 2 Pavana Sir William Petre BK3a 3 Galiardo Sir William Petre BK3b 4 Preludium BK24 5 Galiardo Mris Marye Brownlo BK34 6 Pavana Earle of Salisbury BK15a 7 Galiardo Earle of Salisbury BK15b 8 Galiardo Secundo Earle of Salisbury BK15c John Bull9 Preludium 10 Pavana St Thomas Wake 11 Galiardo St Thomas Wake 12 Pavana 13 Galiardo 14 Galiardo 15 Galiardo Orlando Gibbons16 Galiardo 17 Fantazia of Foure Parts 18 The Lord Salisbury his Pavin 19 Galiardo 20 The Queenes Command 21 PreludiumSequel editA companion work Parthenia inviolata or Mayden Musicke for the Virginalls and Bass Viol was published soon afterwards The title contains a play on words involving the word viol This sequel is said to have been compiled by one Robert Hole See also editThe Mulliner Book The Dublin Virginal Manuscript My Ladye Nevells Booke Susanne van Soldt Manuscript Clement Matchett s Virginal Book Fitzwilliam Virginal Book Priscilla Bunbury s Virginal Book Elizabeth Rogers Virginal Book Anne Cromwell s Virginal BookReferences edit Lothbury British History Online Retrieved 13 June 2020 Parthenia In Latham A Ed The Oxford Companion to Music Oxford University Press Retrieved 10 Jun 2020 from https www oxfordreference com view 10 1093 acref 9780199579037 001 0001 acref 9780199579037 e 5002 Parthenia The Harrow Replicas Chiswick Press London 1942 Parthenia edited by Kurt Stone Broude Brothers New York 1951 A Reevaluation of Parthenia and its Contents Janet Pollack Duke University 2001 Manuscript Additions in Parthenia and other Early English Printed Music in America David Greer Music and Letters 77 1996 169 82 The Keyboard Music of John Bull Walker Cunningham UMI Research Press Ann Arbor 1984 The Consort and Keyboard Music of William Byrd Oliver Neighbour University of California Press Berkeley 1978 Orlando Gibbons and the Gibbons Family of Musicians John Harley Ashgate Publishing Company Vermont 1999External links editParthenia Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Parthenia RVRCD com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Parthenia music amp oldid 1086995535, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
