Description
Book SynopsisThe Monthly Mask is a fascinating series of 360 songs, of immensely varied interest, showing what the public bought month by month as songs to sing, play and teach. It ran from November 1702 to September 1711, and offered the ''newest Songs'', with theatre songs often appearing within a week of their premieres. Political events were also quickly reflected. The Monthly Mask is an important resource for scholars of the musical, theatrical, political and social life of the early 18th century. There are songs by nearly 50 composers, including all the leading English figures between Purcell and Handel. One Purcell song is published for the first time and there are many songs not to be found elsewhere. Besides the theatres, there is music for the court, York Buildings, Stationers'' Hall, Richmond Wells and May Fair, as well as for banquets for the Post Office and the Ordnance Board. The Monthly Mask covers the chief part of Queen Anne''s reign and the triumphs and fall of the Duke of Mar
Trade Review’... this splendid compilation, which offers 360 pieces of music, with dates, careful attributions. and editorial apparatus, is especially welcome. ... Reproduced from clear exemplars drawn from many libraries, the large-format individual songs are unusually easy to read. The handsome [...] Baldwin-Wilson edition should inspire much more attention to this valuable resource, previously so difficult of access.’ The Scriblerian
Table of ContentsContents: Introduction; Originals reproduced in this facsimile volume; Table of songs; The songs; Notes on the songs; Appendices; Indexes.
