Twelve Good Musicians: From John Bull to Henry Purcell

This concise, lecture‑style study opens a window onto England’s vibrant seventeenth‑century music scene, following a carefully chosen line‑up of twelve composers and performers. Beginning with the pioneering Gresham Professor John Bull, the narrative sketches each musician’s life, training and the musical duties they fulfilled—from cathedral organists to court composers—while situating their work within the evolving tastes of the period.

The author weaves together biographical detail, contemporary commentary and musical examples, drawing on the likes of Grove’s Dictionary and the Dictionary of National Biography. Listeners will come away with a clearer picture of how the madrigal, masque and early violin repertoire blossomed, and why figures such as William Byrd, Thomas Morley and finally Henry Purcell deserve a place in the canon. The book serves as an accessible guide for anyone eager to hear the sounds that shaped England’s rich Baroque heritage.