In the Preface of his admirable contribution to the _Oxford History of
Music_ (Vol. III.) the late Sir Hubert Parry writes: "The seventeenth
century is musically almost a blank, even to those who take more than
the average interest in the Art; and barely a score of composers' names
during the whole time suggest anything more than a mere reputation to
modern ears." Of course the distinguished author is speaking of the
musical world in general, not of our own country's music only. I am
inclined to think it is a little severe on us. I have always found
that great interest is taken in the 17th century music and musicians of
England.
Surely the century which began with the great Madrigal school at its
highest point, which saw the Masque at its best in Milton's _Comus_,
which witnessed the supersession of the viol by the violin, and which,
at the close, had to its credit the complete works of our greatest
composer, Henry Purcell, ought not to be in any sense "almost a blank,"
to English students at least.
But if our musical students will only read Volume III of the _Oxford
History_--so full of the author's admirable criticisms and so amply
{vi} illustrated by selections from the great composers of the
period--they will certainly form a high opinion of what was
accomplished then, and, having finished the volume, their minds will
assuredly not be a "blank."
To help to a useful view of what was done in our own country in the
17th century I took that period for my University Course in this
session 1919-1920, and for my subject Twelve Good Musicians from John
Bull to Henry Purcell. The substance of these lectures is given in the
following chapters.
For many biographical details and other matter I have availed myself of
the valuable articles in Grove's _Dictionary_ and in the _Dictionary of
National Biography_, which I beg to acknowledge.
To Mr Barclay Squire I am deeply indebted for much information. His
work in Musical History is most valuable, and deserves the best thanks
of all students.
To my brother, Professor J. C. Bridge, M.A., Mus.D., of Chester, and to
Mr Jeffrey Pulver and Dr Borland I am also grateful for many
interesting facts contained in these pages.