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Elizabethan Era Research Paper

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Music, a way to express emotions and define personality, was a key part of culture in the Elizabethan Era. From the regal courts of Queen Elizabeth, to the dark streets of Manchester, Music affected many different types of people. Elizabethan Music was mainly divided among the categories of Church, Court, Street, and Theater Music. Church music was perhaps one of the most influential types of music. As religion played a key part in the lives of Elizabethan people, Church music was a way for common people to interact and express their emotions religiously. In addition to religion, church music was played in many weddings. This lead to Church music being mainly comprised of Hymns, balletts, canzonets, and madrigals-- typically more quiet and peaceful pieces. These pieces were mainly played on the harpsichord or the organ-- keyboard like instruments. The most famous church musician was William Byrd. He composed many religious works that are still studied today such as The “Mass for Four Voices.” …show more content…

In the Elizabethan Era, being musically talented was extremely fashionable. Thus, many people of royalty often played a musical instrument. In fact, Queen Elizabeth was an extremely passionate advocate of music. She knew how to play the Flute and Virgil, employed over 70 musicians for the royal court, and single-handedly put playing music into the status-quo. The main instruments played for the court were the lute, the viol, the virginial, and the recorder. The most famous musician that played for the court was John Dowland who is famous for his Lachrymae, a collection of several

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