Fitzwilliam Virginal Book

The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book is a treasure trove of keyboard music from the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean periods in England, capturing the essence of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Named after Viscount Fitzwilliam, who donated the manuscript to Cambridge University in 1816, it now resides at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. While today "virginals" refers to a specific type of small harpsichord, back then, it was a catch-all term for various keyboard instruments.

Interestingly, the manuscript itself wasn’t given a title by its copyist, and its early history before the 18th century remains somewhat mysterious. It features music from around 1562 to 1612, showcasing works by renowned composers like John Bull, William Byrd, Orlando Gibbons, and Giles Farnaby, among others. The collection boasts 297 pieces, some with intriguing and whimsical titles. While many believe that Francis Tregian the Younger compiled the book, recent research has cast doubt on this theory.

In 1899, the publisher Breitkopf & Härtel released an edition of the book with some basic commentary. Fast forward to 1935, and Richard Strauss incorporated selections from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book into his opera "Die schweigsame Frau" adding a unique musical flavor to specific scenes. The first recording of pieces from this anthology was made by Joseph Payne in 1964, featuring performances on both the harpsichord and the organ.

The book includes compositions by various composers such as John Bull, Giles Farnaby, and William Byrd. These pieces were not written for any specific instrument and can be performed on a variety of contemporary keyboard instruments. Today, the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book remains a vital resource for scholars and performers passionate about keyboard music from this fascinating period in history.