It takes its name from viscount fitzwilliam who bequeathed this manuscript collection to cambridge university in 1816, where it remains to this day in the. Variation of the quadran pavan from the fitzwilliam virginal book 8. The extraordinary fitzwilliam virginal book is a fascinating document housed in the fitzwilliam library in cambridge, uk. Fitzwilliam virginal book classical instrumental capriccio. Jan belder make it a landmark of historical importance. Although the virginals was among the most popular keyboard instruments of this period, there is no evidence that the composers wrote exclusively for. Lodged in the fitzwilliam museum in cambridge it contains more than 300 works for the virginal, by composers such as john, bull, william byrd, thomas tomkins and many others. Search for recordings of the fitzwilliam virginal book for the classic collection of a myriad of such composers.
This is a list of composers active during the renaissance period of european history. Fitzwilliam virginal book music collection britannica. The fitzwilliam virginal book vol 4 brilliant classics 95254. Bull, byrd, farnaby, gibbons, morley, philips, tomkins pieterjan belder on allmusic 2012 dutch label brilliant has specialized in lowcost. The book eventually found its way, via the library of pepusch, into the hand of richard, viscount fitzwilliam, and thus to the museum that bears his name in cambridge. It represents thirty of the greatest composers of the time, including. The virginal that gives the book its name is a small keyboard instrument that works on the same principle as the harpsichord strings are plucked when a key is hit, rather than struck as they are in a piano. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. Johannes, jan or johan vermeer 1632 december 1675, dutch. For years ive played various bach suites and pieces from the fitzwilliam virginal book at the piano for my own pleasure, and i suspected for some time that their influence would eventually show up in my own work. The company has pioneered the idea of the series and proudly includes series of such composers as prokofiev. Containing nearly three hundred works, it is certainly the largest. Oct 18, 2016 this is the fourth volume in his acclaimed series of recordings from the fitzwilliam virginal book, with the first praised by fanfare, who said this is one complete recording series that i want. Fitzwilliam virginal book, also called erroneously queen elizabeths virginal book, an early 17thcentury english manuscript collection of 297 pieces for keyboard by many of the major composers of the period, including william byrd, who is represented by 67 pieces.
The fitzwilliam virginal book, volume 6 brilliant classics. Buy pieterjan belders album titled the fitzwilliam virginal book, vol. The virginal is originally a small, even portable harpsichord, but at the time the pieces were composed it was referring to any keyboard instrument, even including the organ. Fitzwilliam virginal book collection of english keyboard music there are close to 300 works in the collection style of writing is virtuosic ex. This release features excerpts from the fitzwilliam virginal book from composers including giovanni picchi, orlando gibbons, john bull, william byrd, and more. William byrd, born 153940, london, englanddied july 4, 1623, stondon massey, essex, england, english organist and composer of the shakespearean age. A number of pieces are also known from other sources, but in particular most of the keyboard works. The company has pioneered the idea of the series and proudly includes series of such composers as prokofiev, tchaikovsky, parry, walton, grainger, berkeley and bridge. Fitzwilliam virginal book study guide by kento77 includes 9 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more.
Fitzwilliam virginal book volume 1 brilliant classics. Young lady seated at the virginal, johannes vermeer. The fitzwilliam virginal book is the most remarkable, and in many respects the most valuable. Sweelinck is a sort of isolated dutch counterpart of. Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for its ground breaking search for neglected musical gems.
It was probably compiled by francis treggian in the early 17th century. The fitzwilliam virginal contains nearly three hundred works dating between 1562 and 1612. The complete recording of the fitzwilliam virginal book is highly prestigious project of unprecedented scope and importance. Ive never been keen on the idea that the fitzwilliam virginal book was copied. Of unknown origins, the previously scarce collectors item is now available at popular prices for the first time. It is one of the most important testimonies to musical practice in the elizabethan period and at the beginning of the tudor dynasty. Since the 14th century is not usually considered by music historians to be part of the musical renaissance, but part of the middle ages, composers active during that time can be found in the list of medieval composers. The final group of pieces to be considered are those that close the second disc and which are not by bull. William byrd, born 153940, london, englanddied july 4, 1623, stondon massey, essex, england, english organist and composer of the shakespearean age who is best known for his development of the english madrigal. The music of the fitzwilliam virginal book ranges from erudite fantasias strict contrapuntal pieces of a refined style and beauty to short arrangements of popular songs and dances. The term does not appear to have been applied earlier than the 19th century. He seems to have had a special preference for catholic composers, and farnaby was not only a protestant, but even a puritan, which put him at the very other end of the religious spectrum. At the time the fitzwilliam virginal book was put together most collections of keyboard music were compiled by performers.
The fitzwilliam virginal book is a primary source of keyboard music from the late elizabethan. Of byrds origins and early life in london little is known. Fitzwilliam virginal book, an early 17thcentury english manuscript collection of 297 pieces for keyboard by many of the major composers of the period, including william byrd, who is represented by 67 pieces. The fitzwilliam virginal book contains 297 compositions, mostly by english composers like bull, byrd and gibbons, and some by foreign composers, such as sweelinck. The fitzwilliam virginal book is the most remarkable, and in many respects the most valuable collection of elizabethan keyboard music, according to groves dictionary of music and musicians. If we believe that the fitzwilliam virginal book was indeed compiled by tregian there is reason to wonder why he included works by farnaby. The fitzwilliam virginal book the fitzwilliam museum. The high quality of the music and the excellent performances by pieter.
Fitzwilliam virginal book volume 5 brilliant classics. The quadran pavan from the fitzwilliam virginal book 6. Until parthenia was printed in about 1612, there was no music published as such in england at this time, and like the fitzwilliam virginal book, most of the collections of keyboard music were compiled by performers. In 1889 for the article on virginal music written for the first edition of george groves dictionary of music and musicians, squire provided biographies of both elder and younger tregians and introduced the idea that the younger tregian might have copied the fitzwilliam virginal book. Bull, byrd, farnaby, gibbons, morley, philips, tomkins pieterjan belder on allmusic 2012. Bull, byrd, farnaby, gibbons, morley, philips, tomkins to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. Lodged in the fitzwilliam museum in cambridge, it contains more than 300 works for the virginal, by composers such as john bull, william byrd, thomas tomkins and many others. Most of the great keyboard composers of the period are represented in the book.
Biographies of composers of early music complementing here of a sunday morning the radio program. The first volume of the complete edition of the fitzwilliam virginal book. The fitzwilliam virginal book is the most famous, extensive and important collection of keyboard music from the english elizabethan and jacobean era. Virginalist denotes a composer of the socalled virginalist school, and usually refers to the english keyboard composers of the late tudor and early jacobean periods. A collection of all philips known music for keyboard instruments contained in sources other than the fitzwilliam virginal book.
The company has pioneered the idea of the series and proudly includes series of such composers as prokofiev, tchaikovsky, parry, walton, grainger. Oct 03, 2018 the fitzwilliam virginal book, volume 6. The book, which is now housed in the fitzwilliam museum at cambridge, hails from the late elizabethan and early jacobean periods in england. The fitzwilliam virginal book, volume 7 brilliant classics. Jul 29, 2019 pieterjan belder continues his superb survey of the fitzwilliam virginal book, an extraordinary manuscript compiled in the late 16th century and held in the fitzwilliam museum in cambridge. The fitzwilliam virginal book, an early 17thcentury english manuscript for keyboard music, is yet another compendium of musical pieces that combine the pieces of several composers. He also wrote virginal and organ music that elevated the english keyboard style. The book is a collection of pieces by many composers roughly from 1562 to 1612. The extraordinary fitzwilliam virginal book is a fascinating document. The fitzwilliam virginal book is a primary source of keyboard music from the late elizabethan and early jacobean periods in england, i. It is the largest collection of elizabethan and jacobean keyboard music, all handwritten and totalling nearly 300 compositions, and all of which. Young lady seated at the virginal, johannes vermeer johannes, jan or johan vermeer 1632 december 1675, dutch the fitzwilliam virginal book the fitzwilliam virginal book, an early 17thcentury english manuscript for keyboard music, is yet another compendium of musical pieces that combine the pieces of several composers. The nearly 300 airs, variations, fantasies, toccatas, pavanes, galliards, allemandes, and courantes in these two volumes include some of the finest examples of elizabethan and jacobean music.
A few are by composers with established reputations, such as gibbons, robert johnson and peerson who. Aug 10, 2015 search for recordings of the fitzwilliam virginal book for the classic collection of a myriad of such composers. Composed between 1550 and 1620, the fitzwilliam virginal book mixes elaborate masterpieces with modest dance tunes and charming songs. Peter philips also phillipps, phillips, pierre philippe, pietro philippi, petrus philippus. History 10 composers and works study guide by wliusouthridge includes 32 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. For each composer, the pieces follow the order in which they appear in the manuscript. There is no authorship attribution in the book itself.
This is the fourth volume in his acclaimed series of recordings from the fitzwilliam virginal book, with the first praised by fanfare, who said this is one complete recording series that i want. He was one of the greatest keyboard virtuosos of his time, and transcribed or arranged several italian motets and madrigals by such composers as lassus, palestrina, and giulio caccini for his instruments. He also wrote virginal and organ music that elevated the english keyboard style life. Composers on this list had some period of significant activity after 1400, before 1600, or in. Posted on october 3, 2018 by emr2015 posted in recording tagged keyboard, renaissance. Recordings of pieces from the fitzwilliam virginal book, mp3 files free download. Fitzwilliam virginal book koopman capriccio records. Bears present title because it became property of the mus. In this, the fifth volume, belder explores the music of some of the books best known composers, such as thomas tallis, john munday and thomas tomkins.
Johnson and dowland were famous lute composers of the day whose music was frequently rearranged by keyboard composers. A number of pieces are also known from other sources, but in particular most of the keyboard works of giles farnaby are known only from this book. Belder decided to group the two composers together for this release. Sweelinck is a sort of isolated dutch counterpart of theirs, writing for organ and harpsichord. Selections from the fitzwilliam virginal book compositions from 1562 to 1612 by david ezra okonsar this late renaissance to early baroque music, mid sixteenth to early seventieth century, as it appears on those selections, is loaded with an irresistible lyricism and charm. The fitzwilliam virginal book, volume one by classical piano sheet music and maitland, john a. This is almost certainly the 450th anniversary of the composers birth so its apt. The fitzwilliam virginal book vol 4 brilliant classics. This remarkable collection of works for the virginal, or small harpsichord, is found in the fitzwilliam museum in cambridge.
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