Scan 279
The American history and encyclopedia of music, 1908
6 lines. Read by computer on 11 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1school in Canterbury, in order that teachers might be trained in the art of playing. His distinguished initiative has been followed, and in no other country has skill in organ building been brought to such a degree of perfection as in England. The construction of organs is at the present day one of Great Britain's leading industries.
3In The Childhood of the English Nation is given the following description of musical conditions in the Twelfth Century: "Music had made some advances. Organs of a clumsy kind were used in churches and the modern violin, noblest of instruments, was being slowly developed out of the awkward-looking growth or rote which appears to be of Celtic origin. Church song was always in unison, but in Wales and Yorkshire the country people sang songs in part. Even in the Twelfth Century, there were discriminating critics who were susceptible to the higher influences of music, but condemned what they called the enervating character of the fashionable music of the day, as well as the songs sung at banquets."
5We have, in truth, little account of the ups and downs of musical development after the Conquest. Geographically cut off from the rest of Europe, England probably pursued an independent way. But there is in existence one isolated piece of evidence furnishing strong proof that she did not sleep. This is the rota or round, known as "Sumer is icumen in" by John of Fornsete, a monk of Reading Abbey, which dates from the first half of the Thirteenth Century. The original manuscript is in the British Museum and is written in exquisite counterpoint for six voices two of which take the pes or burden. It is too skilful to be accidentally of merit, but indicates that, musically speaking, England was in advance of the time. It must be remembered that this was written fully one hundred and fifty years before the rise of the Flemish school, which so zealously cultivated counterpoint. It is as fresh and modern as if written but yesterday and clever indeed is the fashion in which the playful call of the cuckoo echoes through the charming harmony.
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