Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 1

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

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	CHURCH MUSIC ALWAYS IN ARREAR.	27
	Even in the sixteenth century, modulation being still confined to the ecclesiastical modes, precluded the use of the most agreeable keys in music. Zarlino, who approved of the four modes added by Glareanus, speaks of himself, and a few others, having composed in the eleventh mode, or key of C natural (which was not one of the original eight), to which they were led ly the vulgar musicians of the streets. and villages, who generally accompanied rustic dances with tunes in this key, and which was then called, II modo lascivo—The wanton key. I suppose it acquired thi3 name, because, like the " sweet Lydian measure" of old, the in­terval from the seventh to the octave is only a semitone.
	The above dance tune is taken from the Musica Antiqua by John Stafford Smith. He transcribed it from a manuscript then in the possession of Francis Douce, Esq. (who bequeathed the whole of his manuscripts to the Bodleian Library), and calls* it, " a dance tune of the reign of Edward II., or earlier." The notation of the MS. is the same as in that which contains Sumer is icumen in,