A Biographical Dictionary of English Court Musicians, 1485-1714

Using court documents, marriage records, correspondence, and other historical sources, the authors reconstruct the careers of all of the musicians and instrument makers who were employed by the English Court from the beginning of the reign of Henry VII to the end of the reign of Queen Anne. Each biography includes years of birth and death; court place as instrumentalist/singer, known span of appointment, and appointments outside the court. Reference aids include a finding list for name variants; an appended list and description of places of court musicians, including the private music (strings, keyboard, wind, drums), trumpeters, and the Chapel Royal men; and tables showing family connections between court musicians. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Andrew Ashbee is a lecturer for the Worker's Educational Association. His series RECM has received wide acclaim. David Lasocki is Head of Reference Services in the Music Library at Indiana University, USA, and author of The Bassanos. Peter Holman is Lecturer in Music at King's College, London and Director of The Parley of Instruments. Fiona Kisby is a British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellow in music at Royal Holloway, University of London. She has completed her PhD on The Royal Household Chapel in Early-Tudor London, 1485-1547 (London 1996), sections of which have recently been published in Early Music and Early Music History.