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English Church Music c.1500-1700 - MUS00090H

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  • Department: Music
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Jo Wainwright
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

This module centres on English church music between the years of c.1500 and c.1700. The project will trace the development of music in relation to the political and religious events of the period, aiming to place music from the Eton Choirbook through to Purcell in its liturgical and cultural context. Key works by John Taverner, Thomas Tallis, John Sheppard, William Byrd, Orlando Gibbons, Richard Dering, Thomas Tomkins, John Blow, Pelham Humfrey and Henry Purcell will be studied, and the project will introduce students to issues relating to musical sources, editions and performance practice.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module centres on English church music between the years of c.1500 and c.1700. The project will trace the development of music in relation to the political and religious events of the period, aiming to place music from the Eton Choirbook through to Purcell in its liturgical and cultural context. Key works by John Taverner, Thomas Tallis, John Sheppard, William Byrd, Orlando Gibbons, Richard Dering, Thomas Tomkins, John Blow, Pelham Humfrey and Henry Purcell will be studied, and the project will introduce students to issues relating to musical sources, editions and performance practice.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the project students should:

  • have acquired an overview of English church music of the period c.1500 1700;
  • have acquired a knowledge of the compositional processes used by composers of English church music of the period;
  • have acquired more detailed knowledge of individual works;
  • have gained deeper insight into selected topics (see Content);
  • an understanding of recent academic research in aspects of Renaissance and early Modern English church music;
  • an understanding of historiographical issues relating to the period;
  • have acquired an understanding of performance practice relating to English Church music of the period.

Third years:

On completion of the module, in their independent work, students should demonstrate learning outcomes C1-6

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
4000 word essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

An essay of approximately 4000 words on a topic of the student’s choice agreed in tutorial (100%)

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
4000 word essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Report form, with marks to student no later than 6 weeks from submission of assessment

Indicative reading

  • H. Benham, Latin Church Music in England c.1460-1575 (London, 1977)
  • S. Bicknell, The History of the English Organ (Cambridge, 1996)
  • M.C. Boyd, Elizabethan Music and Musical Criticism (Philadelphia, 2/1962)
  • R. Bray, The Sixteenth Century, The Balckwell History of Music in Britain (Oxford, 1995)
  • M. Burden ed., The Purcell Companion (London, 1995)
  • J. Caldwell, The Oxford History of English Music Volume 1: From the Beginnings to c.1715 (Oxford, 1991)
  • H. Chadwick ed., Not Angels, but Anglicans: A History of Christianity in Britain ((Norwich, 2000)
  • G. Cuming, A History of Anglican Liturgy (2nd edn, London, 1982)
  • C. Dearnley, English Church Music, 1650-1750 (London, 1970)
  • P. Doe, Tallis (London, 2/1976)
  • E. Fellowes, English Cathedral Music, rev. J. A. Westrup (London, 1969; 1st pub.: 1941)
  • J. Harper, The Forms and Orders of Western Liturgy from the Tenth to the Eighteenth Century (Oxford, 1991)
  • F. Harrison, Music in Medieval Britain (London, 1958; 4/Buren, 1980)
  • J. Kerman, The Masses and Motets of William Byrd (London, 1981)
  • P. le Huray, Music and the Reformation in England 1549-1660 (London, 1967; rev. edn: Cambridge, 1978)
  • K. Long, The Music of the English Church (London, 1972, repr. 1991)
  • I. Spink ed., The Blackwell History of Music in Britain: The Seventeenth Century (Oxford, 1992)
  • I. Spink, Restoration Cathedral Music 1660-1714 (Oxford, 1995)
  • N. Temperley, The Music of the English Parish Church (Cambridge, 1979)
  • D. Wulstan, Tudor Music (London, 1985)


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.