Discover the Influence of Famous Tudor King Henry VIII had on Tudor period Music
Tudor Coat of Arms
As the Medieval Period ended a new Tudor dynasty took control of England Tudor period 1485 – 1603
Includes Elizabethan Era
According to Historians “England was economically healthier, more expansive, and more optimistic under the Tudors” than at any time since the Roman occupation!
During the Tudor era which lasted from 1485 to 1603, different kinds of cultural activities actively flourished under the direct patronage of the Tudor monarchs.
The first Tudor monarch, Henry VII, was an active patron of libraries and arts. This tradition continued through the rest of the Tudor dynasty after him.
Music, in particular, was considered a vital part of the court of Tudor monarchs and a number of Tudor monarchs were musicians and composers themselves.
Tudor Music Composers – During the Tudor era, English monarchs commissioned highly skilled musicians to compose music for various occasions.
During the Tudor era, musicians came to be regarded as artists in their own might and were frequently patronized by wealthier members of the royalty, nobility and the merchant class.
During the Tudor era, English monarchs commissioned highly skilled musicians to compose music for various occasions. Notable composers of the period include Robert Fayrfax who was hired directly by the first Tudor monarch, Henry VII.
Fayrfax continued to compose music for Henry VIII after he became the next Tudor monarch.
Apart from producing music for the court and for notable occasions such as feasts and embassies, Tudor monarchs also hired musicians to teach music to their children.
Medieval Minstrel
Typically, musicians who could play trumpets and other loud instruments were less valued than musicians who played softer instruments such as stringed instruments and keyboards. Similarly, choir boys and singers were valued and paid on the basis of their singing prowess.
Trouvères Medieval Musicians
Although nearly all Tudor monarchs had a taste for good music and not just patronized musicians but also composed music themselves, Henry VIII was most notably known for composing excellent music.
Henry was proficient in playing a large number of musical instruments including recorders, the flute, the keyboard, the harp and the organ.
Harp Strings
Henry VIII was also known for composing many pieces of music and reportedly had a fairly good singing voice.
Apart from being able to play many instruments, Henry VIII owned hundreds of musical instruments in his private collection including 150 recorders.
He also hired a large number of musicians to his royal staff who would adorn his court with music at all times. According to one estimate, he had nearly 60 musicians on the royal staff at the time of his death.
Music remained a vital part of worship in Tudor England.
Since chapel music mostly relied on vocal finesse, ecclesiastical authorities were frequently on the search for the best of men and young boys who could contribute an excellent voice to the church choir.
This sometimes led to an interesting but friendly rivalry between Tudor monarchs, who similarly sought good choir singers, and the leading cardinals.
A notable example of this is Mark Smeaton who originally sang in a chapel and was subsequently hired by Henry VIII.
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