' In England every village, be it only of 12 or 13 houses, has a parish church; their places of worship are most richly adorned, and in the art of music they stand (in my opimi'oni first in all Europe. For though in France or in Scotland you may meet with some musicians of such absolute accomplishment as in England, yet 'tis not in such
' numbers. '
So wrote a visitor to Tudor England. Denis Stevens discusses the way in which the medieval musical tradition in England grew and developed.