The Ravenscroft Consort
Who was Ravenscroft?
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| Thomas Ravenscroft | Born London c1582, died c1633 | |
| English Renaissance
composer of Sacred music, such as psalms and chorister at St. Paul's,
London. He studied under Edward Pearce.
Ravenscroft also composed part songs for home music making as well as jolly rounds and "catches" for 3 or more voices to be sung in a tavern or the like. Ravenscroft was not just a composer, but also a collector of popular songs of his day, which he arranged and published. |
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| The Golden Age of English Music | The
period of English history from the time of Henry VIII to Charles I was
politically turbulent. Nevertheless it saw a flowering of English music
making, "The Golden Age" of English music. Pursuit of music was regarded
as an essential part of a gentleman's or a courtier's education.
This is wonderfully illustrated by Thomas Morley in his Plain and Easy Introduction to Practical Music. (Published 1597, and destined to become a standard text) It tells a story of a gentleman, who, after dinner, found himself unable to participate in the customary music making: "....But supper being ended and music books (according to the custom) being brought to the table, the mistress of the house presented me with a part earnestly requesting me to sing; but when, after many excuses, I protested unfeignedly that I could not, everyone begun to wonder; yea, some whispered to others demanding how I was brought up..." Whilst not all households were thus musical, clearly great many educated people regarded some musical ability with which to entertain themselves in the evening in company of friends as part of their complete education. Thomas Ravenscroft published many part songs just for such occasions, and the English madrigal tradition surely owes a great debt to him and his contemporaries. The Ravenscroft
Consort very much enjoys singing Thomas Ravenscroft's songs, and we find
that our audiences like them too. After nearly 400 years it seems that
when it comes to the human pursuits of love, and a modicum of drink, very
little has changed.
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| The Music of Thomas Ravenscroft | Facsimiles, modern editions and discography. | |
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