The Foundations of English Music
Under the direction of Sir RiCHARD RUNCIMAN TERRY
Seventeenth Century Songs
Sung by JOHN ARMSTRONG (tenor)
During the latter half of the seventeenth century the Playford family was responsible for the publication of practically all the English music printed during that period. John Playford , starting as a bookseller, published his first musical work, ' The English Dancing Master', in 1651. From that year onwards his publications were *of the greatest value to English music, the history and importance of which are associated as much with the name of I honest' John Playford as of anybody's living at that time
John died in 1686 and had, therefore, time to publish such of Purcell's music as saw print in the years before that date ; and it is quite in the spirit of the times that Purcell should have commemorated his death with. a piece of music specially written for the occasion.
This Pastoral Elegy is as appropriate a tribute as Purcell could have made, for amongst other things we are deeply indebted to Playford for his preservation of the great wealth of Country Dances, Airs and Ballads of the English people. The collection of tunes in Playford's ' The English Dancing Master' is immortal, and almost every English composer who has since his time set
, pen to music paper has, on some occasion or another, made use of the wonderful material contained in Playford's famous volume.