The English theorists of the seventeenth century with particular reference to Charles butler and the principles of musik in singing and setting...1636

Abstract

The thesis is divided into two main parts: the first part is concerned with the English Theorists and Butler; the second presents a modern edition of The Principles of Musik... Chapter I, which is preceded by a Checklist of treatises, tutors, instruction books and "lessons" (1561-1725),examines the traditions of English Music Theory of which Butler forms part, devoting most attention to those theorists who have received least attention, Butler, the anonymous Guide, Campian, Playford and Simpson. Chapter II deals with the life and work of Charles Butler, presenting a large amount of unpublished biographical information, and showing the author to have been a man of wide learning and many talents. Chapter III discusses Butler's book: individual sections concern the book as a specimen of typography, the content of the book and its style, Butler's scholarship; the "major issues" of The Principles... - the Moods, Greek music, the fourth, the contemporary attitudes towards music as demonstrated in Book Two, Butler's indebtedness to earlier writers and his influence on others - are here treated. The modern edition which follows presents an annotated version of the entire text in un-reformed spelling, adding Index Nominum and Index Rerum. Appendices deal with Butler's sources and references; a checklist of his printed books; transcription of all his musical examples; a photographic supplement is devoted to Butler's biography. Bibliography under four, main headings - articles, theses, books, microfilm sources - concludes the thesis. The whole is presented in three volumes, Volume II being the modern edition.