| Share page | Visit Us On FB |
|
BALLADS OF SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 23
often sung ; and it is interesting to note that the words were still in manuscript when set by him. He was killed at Chester in the Civil War in 1645.
To the beginning of this century belongs Robert Johnson's beautiful air "As I walked forth one summer's day," as also the song by an Italian composer, Ferabosco, resident in England, entitled "Shall I seek to ease my grief?"
One of the favourite airs of the "Madrigal period " was "Since first I saw your face," composed by Thomas Ford. Ford appears to have been a court musician attached to Prince Henry, son of James I, at a yearly stipend of £30, which on the accession of Charles I was increased to £80. "Since first I saw your face " was originally written as a four-part song, as was another of Ford's, which was almost as popular, "There is a ladie sweet and kind."
A contemporary of Ford's was John Dowland, whose fame as a song-writer rests chiefly on one song, "The Frog Galliard." This was also originally written as a part-song, to the words " Now, O now, I needs must part," but Dowland afterwards adapted it for one voice with accompaniment for the lute. " This practice of writing songs for either one or many voices," says Grove, "seems to have been common in England, as in Italy." The same authority |
||
|
|
||