Congratulations!  Wouldn’t a systematic search of REED collections (up to 1642) be a starting point for references to music, at least mentioned, together with the online REED patrons database (see the performances lists), that would then provide the sources for further investigation into documents, accounts, and household records? I see you are looking for plays that have references to music, and vice versa, and another path might be to research the biographies of musicians known to have lived during your period, to see what surviving letters, papers and records exist that might connect their music to plays.

Best of luck with your work!

Elza C. Tiner

Professor of Latin & English

School of Humanities & Social Sciences

Lynchburg College

Lynchburg, VA 24501 USA

From: REED-L: Records of Early English Drama Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of WILLIAM F LYONS
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 2:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Theatre Band Research Fellowship

Dear REED members,

I have recently been awarded a two year Leverhulme Research Fellowship for a project entitled:

Silver Sounds & Moody Food: Theatre Bands and Their Music 1575-1645

Needless to say I am delighted that the proposal was accepted, and look forward to officially beginning on June 1^st this year. It will serve greatly to enhance the work I have undertaken at the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and with my period music ensembles. 

Whilst a major aspect of the research is to experiment with practical considerations of ensemble type, size, context and performance locale with the aim of establishing a repertoire of contemporary music that may well have been used in plays, I am hoping to begin the process of compiling a data base of all references to and instructions for music in plays performed [mostly in English and in London theatres] during the period stated. Obviously I’m aware that this is a huge undertaking and cannot be completed in the period of the research project, but intend to make considerable progress during this time. I am aware of the excellent work and online Music in Shakespeare site of Christopher Wilson and others but I am interested to know of accessible collections and online resources that may be of use.

Any advice or recommendations as to how best to proceed would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks

William Lyons

Leverhulme Research Fellow

William Lyons
www.william-lyons.com
www.thecitymusick.com
www.thedufays.com

+44 [0]7941 240060
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