Shakespeare and music : with illustrations from the music of the 16th and 17th centuries

This volume explores the rich musical world that surrounded Shakespeare, offering listeners a vivid picture of the instruments, songs, and settings that would have been familiar on the Elizabethan stage. The author weaves together historical notes, illustrated examples of period instruments, and excerpts of original melodies, showing how the playwright’s verses often doubled as lyrics for popular tunes of the day. Readers will discover the modest virginals in Queen Elizabeth’s court, the lively tabor‑pipe that accompanied dancers, and the graceful viols that colored many a scene.

Beyond the catalog of sounds, the book examines how Shakespeare himself referenced music, from courtly dances to bawdy tavern songs, and how his collaborators turned his words into memorable airs. While many original pieces have been lost, the author presents the surviving fragments with modern notation, allowing listeners to hear a taste of the soundscape that inspired the Bard’s drama. The work serves both Shakespeare enthusiasts and music lovers seeking a window into the artistic life of the 16th and 17th centuries.