Thomas Mace (1612 or 1613 – c. 1706) was an English lutenist, viol player, singer, composer and musical theorist of the Baroque era. His book Musick's Monument (1676) provides a valuable description of 17th century musical practice.
Born in 1612 or 1613,[1] he played the lute from c. 1621, but his teacher if any is unknown.[2] He also played the viol.[3] He was a singer,[4] termed a lay clerk, in the choir of Trinity College, Cambridge from 1635 until his death.[3]
In 1676 he published Musick's Monument,[1] for about 300 subscribers.[5] The title page described it as:
Musick's Monument; OR, A REMEMBRANCER Of the Best Practical Musick, Both DIVINE, and CIVIL, that has ever been known, to have been in the World. Divided into Three Parts. The First PART, Shews a Necessity of Singing Psalms Well, in Parochial Churches, or not to Sing at all; ... The Second PART, Treats of the Noble Lute, (the Best of Instruments) now made Easie; ... In the Third PART, The Generous Viol, in Its Rightest Use, is Treated upon; with some Curious Observations, never before Handled, concerning It, and Musick in General.[6]
Its large section on the lute contained a comprehensive lute tutorial and guide to the instrument,[5] and there was a similar, smaller section on the viol.[3] The book also contained some metaphysical speculation regarding the significance of musical ratios such as the octave.[7]
John Hawkins in A General History Of The Science and Practice Of Music (1776) commented:
Under whom he was educated, or by what means he became possessed of so much skill in the science of music, as to be able to furnish out matter for a folio volume, he has no where informed us; nevertheless his book contains so many particulars respecting himself, and so many traits of an original and singular character, that a very good judgement may be formed both of his temper and ability. With regard to the first, he appears to have been an enthusiastic lover of his art; ... As to the latter, his knowledge of music seems to have been confined to the practice of his own instrument, and so much of the principles of the science, as enabled him to compose for it; but for his style in writing he certainly never had his fellow.[8]
Carlton, Charles (1992). Going to the Wars: The Experience of the British Civil Wars, 1638–1651. London: Routledge. ISBN0-415-03282-2.
Damschroder, David; Williams, David Russell (1990). Music Theory from Zarlino to Schenker: A Bibliography and Guide. Pendragon Press. ISBN0-918728-99-1.
Hawkins, John (1776). A General History Of The Science and Practice Of Music: In Five Volumes. Vol. 4. London: Payne.
Herissone, Rebecca (2000). Music Theory in Seventeenth-Century England. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-816700-8.
Holman, Peter (2010). Life After Death: The Viola Da Gamba in Britain from Purcell to Dolmetsch. Woodbridge: Boydell & Brewer. ISBN978-1-84383-574-5.
thomas, mace, 1612, 1613, 1706, english, lutenist, viol, player, singer, composer, musical, theorist, baroque, book, musick, monument, 1676, provides, valuable, description, 17th, century, musical, practice, portrait, contents, biography, works, notes, referen. Thomas Mace 1612 or 1613 c 1706 was an English lutenist viol player singer composer and musical theorist of the Baroque era His book Musick s Monument 1676 provides a valuable description of 17th century musical practice Portrait of Thomas Mace Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksBiography edit nbsp Chapel of Trinity College Cambridge interiorBorn in 1612 or 1613 1 he played the lute from c 1621 but his teacher if any is unknown 2 He also played the viol 3 He was a singer 4 termed a lay clerk in the choir of Trinity College Cambridge from 1635 until his death 3 During the 1644 Siege of York in the English Civil War he was present in that city 4 where he had family 5 He died c 1706 1 Works editIn 1676 he published Musick s Monument 1 for about 300 subscribers 5 The title page described it as Musick s Monument OR A REMEMBRANCER Of the Best Practical Musick Both DIVINE and CIVIL that has ever been known to have been in the World Divided into Three Parts The First PART Shews a Necessity of Singing Psalms Well in Parochial Churches or not to Sing at all The Second PART Treats of the Noble Lute the Best of Instruments now made Easie In the Third PART The Generous Viol in Its Rightest Use is Treated upon with some Curious Observations never before Handled concerning It and Musick in General 6 Its large section on the lute contained a comprehensive lute tutorial and guide to the instrument 5 and there was a similar smaller section on the viol 3 The book also contained some metaphysical speculation regarding the significance of musical ratios such as the octave 7 John Hawkins in A General History Of The Science and Practice Of Music 1776 commented Under whom he was educated or by what means he became possessed of so much skill in the science of music as to be able to furnish out matter for a folio volume he has no where informed us nevertheless his book contains so many particulars respecting himself and so many traits of an original and singular character that a very good judgement may be formed both of his temper and ability With regard to the first he appears to have been an enthusiastic lover of his art As to the latter his knowledge of music seems to have been confined to the practice of his own instrument and so much of the principles of the science as enabled him to compose for it but for his style in writing he certainly never had his fellow 8 Notes edit a b c Damschroder and Williams 1990 p 178 Spring 2006 p 424 a b c Holman 2010 pp 67 68 a b Carlton 1992 p 162 a b c Spring 2006 p 428 An unabridged version is quoted in Herissone 2000 p 236 Boyden 1965 p 215 Hawkins 1776 pp 450 451References editBoyden David Dodge 1965 The History of Violin Playing from its Origins to 1761 London Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 816183 7 Carlton Charles 1992 Going to the Wars The Experience of the British Civil Wars 1638 1651 London Routledge ISBN 0 415 03282 2 Damschroder David Williams David Russell 1990 Music Theory from Zarlino to Schenker A Bibliography and Guide Pendragon Press ISBN 0 918728 99 1 Hawkins John 1776 A General History Of The Science and Practice Of Music In Five Volumes Vol 4 London Payne Herissone Rebecca 2000 Music Theory in Seventeenth Century England Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 816700 8 Holman Peter 2010 Life After Death The Viola Da Gamba in Britain from Purcell to Dolmetsch Woodbridge Boydell amp Brewer ISBN 978 1 84383 574 5 Sharp Robert Farquharson 1893 Mace Thomas In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 35 London Smith Elder amp Co Spring Matthew 2006 The Lute In Britain A History Of The Instrument And Its Music Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 518838 1 External links editFree scores by Thomas Mace at the International Music Score Library Project IMSLP Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Mace amp oldid 1098762083, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
