Author: OLIPHANT (Thomas):
Title: La Musa Madrigalesca; or a Collection of Madrigals, Ballets, Roundelays, etc. Chiefly of the Elizabethan Age' with Remarks and Annotations.
Description: London: Calkin and Budd..., 1837. FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. 8vo, 197 X 121 mms., pp. xxvi, 388, original pebbled cloth, paper label on spine, bookseller''s ticket of Harold Reeves, London, on lower margin of front paste-down end-paper; binding a bit faded and rubbed, but a very good copy. The music editor and cataloguer Thomas Oliphant (1799–1873) was, in 1830, he was "admitted to the Madrigal Society and remained an active member until his death, becoming honorary secretary in 1832, vice-president in 1871, and president in 1872. He adapted English words to a considerable number of Italian madrigals (in some cases writing his own verses, in others by merely translating the original texts) for the use of the society's members; his work amounted to some fifty English and Italian works in popular editions as well as several compilations" (ODNB), The work was reviewed in Court Magazine, and Monthly Critic in 1837. After commenting upon the history of madrigals, the reviewer turns his or her attention to the book: "The anthology is interesting, not as may be predicated, from the value of the poetry, but from the antiquarian curiosity attached to such a revival in a complete body of snatches of verse, that have hitherto never solicited notice in a collected form.... Mr. Oliphant has rendered good service by its publication both to musical coteries and the hunters of old rhymes."

Keywords: music anthology literature


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