A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Musica Antiqua

by William H. Husk

MUSICA ANTIQUA. A collection of music compiled and edited by John Stafford Smith, and published in 1812 in 2 vols. folio, with a preface and translations of the Provençal songs inserted in the work by John Sidney Hawkins, and some notes by the editor. Its nature and objects will be best described by quoting the very ample title—'Musica Antiqua. A Selection of Music of this and other countries from the commencement of the twelfth to the beginning of the eighteenth century, comprising some of the earliest & most curious Motetts, Madrigals, Hymns, Anthems, Songs, Lessons & Dance Tunes, some of them now first published from manuscripts and printed works of great rarity & value. The whole calculated to shew the original sources of the melody & harmony of this country, & to exhibit the different styles and degrees of improvement of the several periods.' The work contains 190 separate pieces. The selections are made with great skill and judgment, but are very ill digested, as instead of being arranged in strict chronological order, they are intermingled in a very confused manner. The composers from whose works the specimens are selected are John Ambrose, Hugh Aston, Thibaut de Blason, Dr. John Blow, Gaces Brulez, William Byrd, Dr. Thomas Campion, Peter Certon, Dr. William Child, Clemens non Papa, John Cole, Raoul de Coucy, Perrin Dangecourt, John Dowland, John Earsden, Jehan Erars, Thomas Erars, Francesco Geminiani, Jhan Gero, Orlando Gibbons, Heath, Henry VIII, Pelham Humfrey, Simon Ives, John Jenkins, Robert Johnson, Robert Jones, Nicholas Laniere, Orlando de Lasso, Jehan de Latre, William Lawes, Matthew Lock, George Mason, Tiburtio Massaino, Christofero Morales, Thibaut King of Navarre, Jacob Obrecht, Johannes Okeghem, Parker, monk of Stratford, Francis Pilkington, Jodocus Pratensis, Daniel Purcell, Henry Purcell, Richafort, Dr. Nicholas Staggins, Thomas Tallis, Thierres, Orazio Vecchi, Thomas Weelkes, Giaches Wert, Adrian Willaert and Gioseffo Zarlino, besides others whose names are unknown. The principal pieces include four ancient chants for the 'Te Deum' as given by Meibomius, Diruta, Lucas Lossius, and Merbecke; the canon, 'Sumer is icumen in'; Chansons by Troubadours of Navarre and Normandy; part of Robert Johnson's music for Middleton's 'Witch'; two or three masques of the time of James I, copious extracts from 'Musick's Handmaid,' two parts, 1678 and 1689; etc., etc.

[ W. H. H. ]