Elizabeth Roger's Virginal Book

'Elizabeth Rogers Virginal Book' is a musical commonplace book compiled in the mid-seventeenth century by a person or persons so far unidentified. Of all the so-called English "virginal books" this is the only one to mention the name of the instrument in the title, the others being so-called at a far later date.

The Manuscript

The manuscript is a folio volume of sixty pre-lined pages of six staves containing 94 pieces for keyboard and 18 "Voycall" [vocal] "Lessons". It was rebound using part of the original covers, in 1949. The first page bears the inscription "Elizabeth Rogers hir virginall booke. Ffebruary ye 27 1656". However on the same page the name "Elizabeth Fayre" is written, and it has been suggested that these two Elizabeths are the same person, before and after marriage.

There are various other writings, including the name "John Tillett", who may have been a subsequent owner of the manuscript, some poetic fragments, and a note concerning the tuning of the viol. There are also three incomplete tables of contents. Four different hands have been discerned.

The manuscript is now in the British Library, catalogued as Additional Manuscript 10337.

Contents

The pieces contained in the manuscript are relatively simple, and written for the amateur performer. There are settings of popular tunes, dance movements and vocal pieces. None of the keyboard pieces bear a composer's name, and only a few of the vocal pieces are attributed, but many are identifiable from other sources. These include: William Byrd, with his "Battel" suite, dating from at least 1591; Orlando Gibbons; Henry Lawes and his brother William; Robert Johnson; and Nicholas Lanier. Several pieces are attributed to Thomas Strengthfield, of whom nothing is known, but who may have been Elizabeth's music teacher. Other pieces are attributed to John Balls (died 1622), a "wait" or public musician of the city of London; and John Wilson, who replaced him.

#Sr Tho: ffairfax Marche
#Nanns Maske (Orlando Gibbons)
#Almaygne
#The ffairest Nimphes the valleys or mountaines euer bred, & c.
#The Scots Marche
#Prince Ruperts Martch
#One of ye Symphon(ies)
#One of ye Symphon(ies) (William Lawes)
#Selebrand (Sarabande)
#When the King enioyes his owne againe
#Almaygne
#A Trumpett tune
#Essex last goodnight
#Almaygne per Tho: Strengthfield
#The Corrant to ye last Alm(aygne) per Tho: Strengthfield
#Ruperts Retraite
#Almaygne per Tho: Strengthfield
#Corrant to ye former Alma(ygne) per Tho: Strengthfield
# [Untitled]
#The Nightingale
#Corrant Bear
#Selebrand Beare
#Corrant Beare
#Almayne
#Corrant
#Corrant Beare
#Corrant Beare
#The Battaile (William Byrd): The Souldiars summons
#The Martch of ffoote
#(The) Martch (of) horse
#The Trumpetts
#The Irish Martch
#Bagpipes
#The Drum and fflute
#The Martch (to) ye ffight
#Tarra-tantarra
#(The) Battell Joyned
#Retrait
#The Buriing of the dead
#The Souldiers delight
#Corrant
#Selebrand
#A Maske
#Corrant
#Selebrand
#Ly still my Deare
#The Chestnut
#Cloris sight (sighed)
#Now ye springe is comne
#Oh Iesu meeke
#Corrant
#Corrant
#Maske
#Corrant
#Almaygne
#Lupus Ayre (Thomas Lupo?)
#Could thine incomparable eye
#Almaygbe: Mr Johnson
#Mock-Nightingale
#What if the King should come to ye City
#The Kings Complaint
#Almaygne
#Corrant
#Selebrand
#My delyght
#A Scotts Tuen
#An Irish Toy
#Allmayne
#The spaynard (Spaniard)
# [Untitled]
#Selabrand
#The ffinex (Phoenix)
#The faithfull Brothers
#A Corant
#This soldier loues
#Carron o carron (Charon)
#A horne pipe
#Almaygne
#Corrant per Tho: Strengthfield
#Selebrand
#Almaine
#Corant
#Almaygne
#I wish noe more (Nicolas Lanier)
# [Untitled]
#Selebrand
#Loue is strange
#Almaygne Mercure
#Glory of ye North
#Almaine
#Merceur (Mercury)
#Corrant
#Corrant
#Phill: Porters Lamentation
#Psalme 42 (William Lawes)
#Must your faire
#Since tis my fate
#No flattring pellow
#Baloo my boy
#Ile wish no more
#Deerest loue
#No noe I tell ye no
#O that myne eyes
#Yes I could loue
#Lett god the god of Battaile Rize
#Sing to the king of kings (Wiliam Lawes)
#Psalme 39. verse 12 (William Lawes)
#I preethe sweete (Henry Lawes)
#fyer (Nicholas Lanier: lyrics by Thomas Campion)
#Come you pritty (Thomas Campion)
#All you forsaken louers
#Think not deare (William and Henry Lawes)

ee also

* The Mulliner Book
* The Dublin Virginal Manuscript
* My Ladye Nevells Booke of Virginall Musick"
* Fitzwilliam Virginal Book
* Parthenia
* Priscilla Bunbury's Virginal Book

Further reading

* "Elizabeth Rogers hir Virginall Booke," edited by Charles J.F. Cofone. Dover Publications, New York 1975. ISBN 0-486-23138-0. Contains an introduction and transcription of the entire MS.