English instrumental music at the court of Charles I (1625-1645)

The court of King Charles I was resplendent with the highly refined music of a new and confident English school of composers that began with Orlando Gibbons and ended with the Lawes brothers. Prior to the shocking public execution to Charles I at the hands of a vengeful rebel army, he had a lived a life of luxury and splendor that few English monarchs had previously enjoyed. Included in this video are six musical masterpieces from that brief and often neglected era in British history - most of which was overshadowed by the horror and tragedy of the Civil War. William Lawes, whose 5 part fantasy concludes this set, symbolized, in some ways, the turbulent era. For he was both a composer and a soldier who wrote music almost exclusively for the royal family and later followed his King into battle and died therein. Below are listed the music and the artwork from that troubled period in pre-modern England. To skip to the next piece, please click on the time stamp (highlighted in blue). 0:10 Fantasia from Suite #35 (John Hingeston) UPLOAD: Michael Rondeau at IMSLP.org a. View of London bridge, Anonymous, c1660 b. Early Baroque violin, England, c1625 c. Le concert, Nicolas Tournier, c1630 d. Sense of hearing (detail), Jan Breughel, 1618 e. Happy violinist, Gerrit van Honthorst, 1632 f. Woman with viola da gamba, Anthony van Dyck, c1635 g. Divine inspiration of music, Nicolas Regnier, c1640 h. Equestrian portrait of Charles I, A. van Dyck, 1638 4:10 Sarabande (Cuthbert Hely) UPLOAD: Serge Gerbode at gerbode.net a. Edward Herbert of Cherbury (editor of lute book) b. Lutenist, Jean de Reyn, c1640 5:00 Hold tight (Michael East) UPLOAD: Thomas Gettys at IMSLP.org a. Bass viola da gamba, England, c1640 b. David Leeuw and family (detail) Abraham v.d. Tempel, 1671 c. Bass viol, Richard Meares, 1664 d. David Leeuw and family (detail) Abraham v.d. Tempel, 1671 6:55 Almand from Suite #40 (John Hingeston) UPLOAD: Michael Rondeau at IMSLP.org a. Rembrandt with recorder, self portrait, 1636 b. Recorder player, Hendrick ter Bruggen, c1624 c. Boy playing recorder, Hendrick ter Brugghen, 1621 8:20 Draw out the end (Michael East) UPLOAD: Thomas Gettys at IMSLP.org a. David in the Temple (detail), Pieter Lastman, 1614 b. Viol consort, Anonymous French, c1625 c. David Leeuw and family on the garden terrace, A.v.d.Tempel d. Group of musicians, Jan van Bijlert, c1640 10:30 Fantazy in C major (William Lawes) UPLOAD: Martin Grayson at IMSLP.org a. Concerto, Leonello Spada, 1615 b. Katherine & Lucy, Countesses, Anthony van Dyck, c1636 c. Early Baroque violin, Gasparo da Salo, c1609 d. Daniel van Aken playing violin, Frans Hals, c1640 e. Violin (oblique view), da Salo, c1609 f. Charles I portrait, Anthony van Dyck, c1635 g. Le concert, Jan van Biljert, c1635 h. Lady with lute, Anonymous French, 17th cent. i. Putto playing gamba, Laurent de la Hyre, c1640 j. Family making music, Jan Miense Molenaer, c1635 k. Young woman playing viola da gamba, Gerrit van Honthorst l. Man with bass viola da gamba, H. ter Brugghen, 1625 m. Detail of viola da gamba, Gabriel Metsu, 1658 n. Man playing bass gamba, Pier Francesco Mola, c1650 o. Bass viol lesson, Caspar Netscher, 1664 p. Charles I with M.de.St.Antoine, A.van Dyck, 1633