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 (the virginal) 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. February 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 Add MS 10337. The American Institute of Musicology published an edited version by George Sargent in 1971.

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 Almaygne: Mr Johnson (Orlando Gibbons) 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 (William 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)

See also

The Mulliner Book The Dublin Virginal Manuscript My Ladye Nevells Booke Susanne van Soldt Manuscript Clement Matchett's Virginal Book Fitzwilliam Virginal Book Parthenia Priscilla Bunbury's Virginal Book Anne Cromwell's Virginal Book

References

Further reading Elizabeth Rogers hir Virginall Booke, edited by Charles J. F. Cofone. New York: Dover Publications, 1975. . Contains an introduction and transcription of the entire MS.