Matthew Locke’s Musick for His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts
Throughout September, the Daily Classical Music Post celebrates the music of 15th-, 16th-, and 17th-century England. https://youtu.be/nM4sCW5uUGY Matthew Locke (c. 1621–1677) is known particularly for his music for masques as well as for early English operas by Sir William Davenant. He was "Composer in Ordinary to His Majesty, and organist of her Majesty's chapel" (to Charles II and Catherine of Braganza). Interestingly, the level BELOW Composer in Ordinary was known as “Extraordinary”; wouldn’t you think it should be the other way around? Anyway, I digress. Locke may or may not have converted to Roman Catholicism when he was in the Netherlands around the time he was 18, but like several other musicians of the day he managed to conceal this fact in order to continue to be employed by the English monarchy. He also wrote a work on music theory, Melothesia (1673), which is notable for its explanations of how to play a “continued bass.” Keith McGowan says, “During the years b...