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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 January 1967
At no other time in its history has the Anglican Church had so many major composers writing polyphony for its services as in the century following the Edwardian Reformation. It is this abundance of service settings and anthems, many of which are of the highest artistic merit, which has earned for this period the accolade ‘the golden age’. It is dangerously easy to regard the epithet as referring to all aspects of church music-making at this time, not least the performance of the music and the conditions under which the musicians worked. As far as the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603) is concerned, however, this is decidedly not so. Except for the Chapel Royal, and a few cathedrals and collegiate foundations, it seems certain that conditions of residence, pay and performance were of a very low standard indeed.
1 Calendar of State Papers, Spanish, 1558–67, p. 105. (Throughout this paper spellings have been modernized where necessary.)Google Scholar
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8 British Museum, Stowe MS 128, f.8. I acknowledge the help of Dr. Watkins Shaw, who brought this manuscript to my notice.Google Scholar
9 Ibid.Google Scholar
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