Music in the Elizabethan Era
Shakespeare lived during the Elizabethan era. He wrote some of the most popular and influential plays in history. They contained very little scenery and music. During this historical period, however, music was actually a very important part of everyday life. Families and communities of the time were vastly involved in various instrumental and vocal forms of entertainment. Therefore, although Shakespearean drama contained little music, the Elizabethan era was greatly influenced by music (Burton 197). During Elizabethan times, England was considered to be the world's most musically influential nation (Burton 196). Elizabeth herself was very involved in music. There were many new developments in dancing during this historical time period. In addition, many different instruments, especially the lute, became popular or were originally developed by the Elizabethans. Queen Elizabeth was a very musical woman (Burton 196). She possessed a natural talent in the area of music, which she is believed to have inherited from her parents (196). Her mother, Anne Boleyn, had a notable talent for music. Mary Tudor, Elizabeth's cousin, was better known for her musical abilities than Elizabeth was (197). At the age of three, Tudor is said t
There were many forms of this instrument. It was a considered to be a very charming, though simple, instrument. She was not easily swayed by her fondness of singing and dancing (199). She takes such pleasure in it that when her maids dance she follows the cadence with her hand and foot (198). After supper, many families would gather together with slaves and houseguests to sing and dance. They dug a large hole by the river and camouflaged it with green canvas and branches (Burton 198). It often involved the whole family (Burton 197). Stringed instruments became extremely popular during Elizabethan times, but they had already been in existence for several decades (DiDomenico 1). The most well known form, however, was played with an elaborate keyboard that used wooden "jacks" to produce "a series of quills to pluck at the strings of the harp. It could produce a series of high-pitched notes and was known in particular for its shrillness of sound. Another man named de Maisse wrote about Elizabeth: She told me she entertained at least sixty musicians; in her youth she danced very well and composed measures and music, and played them herself and danced them. Higher classes danced courtly dances, which had elaborate names, such as the Volte and the Pavane (Culture 1). Lady Carey's Dompe, for instance, was a slow dance, and Flaunting Two was a country-dance (Burton 199). This common misconception is understandable, because most of the men she appointed had significant musical talent, which she obviously took a liking to. Although it was the most common instrument during this time period, it was typically difficult to play.
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