The Foundations of English Music
Under the direction of Sir RICHARD RUNCIMAN TERRY
Tudor Church Music—I
Latin motets sung by a small choir
Last week we heard examples of Plainsong and Folksong (the latter including carols), together with a few compositions founded on both.
This week we trace the progress of English music from early examples (some of them rather crude) founded on some Plainsong tune to later ones When the composer gave free rein to his imagination.
We have included such later composers as Philips and Dering, although their Latin music was written after the Reformation. That of Philips was written for continental use as he fled abroad at the Reformation, settled on the continent and published all his music at Antwerp.
Dering also spent much time on the continent, finally returning to England as organist to the private chapel of Henrietta-wife of Charles I. But as both Philips and Dering display the characteristics of their predecessors, their music could hardly be omitted from this series.
Robert Johnson is an interesting figure. He was a Scottish priest, was delated (before the Reformation, of course) for heresy ; fled to England and settled down there. The few compositions of his which are still extant show him to have been a writer of real distinction. His music follows the 'English' tradition so distinctively that he has been included in this series. Are we to regard him as a naturalised Englishman or a renegade Scotsman ? The point is too knotty (and even devastating) to be decided here, I am afraid.—R.R.T.