A general history of the science and practice of music / by Sir John Hawkins ; with a new introduction by Charles Cudworth.

Author/creator Hawkins, John
Other author Cudworth, Charles, writer of introduction.
Format Book
Publication InfoNew York, NY : Dover Publications, Inc., [1963]
Description2 volumes (963 pages) : illustrations, plates, portraits, diagrams, facsimiles, music ; 28 cm.
Subjects
Music--History and criticism.
Musicians--Portraits.

SeriesAmerican Musicological Society Music Library Association. Reprint series
American Musicological Society-Music Library Association reprint series. ^A646631
Contents List of portraits in volume one. Sir John Hawkins -- Philippus de Monte -- Orlando Lassus -- Christopher Morales -- Giovanni Pierguigi da Palestrina -- Giovanni Maria Nanino -- Felice Anerio -- Ruggiero Giovanelli -- Claude le Jeune -- Hercole Bottrigaro -- Scipione Cerreto -- John Bull.
Contents List of portraits in volume two. Guido Aretinus presenting his book to Pope John -- Nicholas Laniere -- William Heyther -- Orlando Gibbons -- John Hilton -- Henry Lawes -- John Wilson -- Paolo Agostino -- Gregorio Allegri -- Marin Mersenne -- Girolamo Frescobaldi -- Jean Baptiste Lully -- Francesco Foggia -- Antimo Liberati -- Matteo Simonelli -- Archangelo Corelli -- A curious Violin -- Bernard Smith -- Christopher Simpson -- Christopher Gibbons -- William Child -- Mathew Lock -- Thomas Mace -- John Playford -- John Blow -- Henry Purcell -- William Holder -- Mrs. Arabella Hunt -- Henry Aldrich -- Thomas Britton -- William Croft -- Andrea Adami -- Interior of the Sistine Chapel -- Henry Needler -- Thomas D'Urfey -- John Banister -- Henry Carey -- John Christopher Pepusch -- Antonio Vivaldi -- Francesco Geminiani -- Geo. Fred. Handel -- Giovanni Bononcini -- Attilio Ariosti -- Mrs. ANastasia Robinson -- Francesco Bernardo Senesino -- Signora Francesca Cuzzoni Sandoni -- Signora Faustina -- Carlo Broschi Farinelli.
Abstract In 1776, after sixteen years of painstaking research, the author published a detailed history of music that has long been accorded the status of a genuine classic of musicology. Beginning with earliest recorded evidence of music and continuing on up through the author's own time, his enormous work covers such matters as the origins and development of musical theory, harmonic and contrapuntal processes, polyphony, musical notation, orchestration, instruments, forms, and similar material. It deals with all the musical forms up to his time: plainsong, ballad, motet, canon, chant, madrigal, fugue, sonata, concerto, symphony, cantata, oratorio, opera. It takes into account the particular contributions of various peoples, notably the Greeks, Romans, Hebrews and Egyptians (in the earlier periods) and the Italians, French, Germans, and British in the later periods. We now know more about certain areas of musicology than was available in the author's time, of course, but his work still remains unsuperseded and highly valuable in certain fields of study. He is extremely strong in his consideration of musical theorists and their works, and he gives detailed summaries and many exact quotes from scores of historically important works that are now impossible to find except in the largest libraries; the material that he covers is still a necessary part of the background of any serious scholar. The author is also still a primary source for the biography and works of many contemporary and near-contemporary composers, theoreticians, performers, and other personalities associated with music. He provides biographical and critical information about hundreds of musicians who have been undeservedly forgotten, and are only now being rediscovered and reappreciated, and his work is a necessary part of every musical reference library.
General noteReprint of the 1853 edition.
LCCN 63004484

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Music Music Stacks ML159.H39 G4 1963 V. 1 ✔ Available Place Hold
Music Music Stacks ML159.H39 G4 1963 V. 2 ✔ Available Place Hold