Parthenia was the first music to be engraved in Britain, and its contents represent the apex of English keyboard Music. Its 21 pieces were written by the most influential composers of its day, William Byrd, John Bull and Orlando Gibbons. The book was lavishly engraved by William Hole, cuneator to the king, to commemorate the marriage of Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I, to Frederick V, Elector Palatine of Heidelberg, on Valentine’s Day, 1613.

Hole followed this publication with a second volume of music sometime at the beginning of the 1620s. Rather than being just a collection of keyboard music, Parthenia In-Violata contains a part for bass viol. Its contents are somewhat different to Parthenia: only three of its composers are identifiable, though its pieces are charming and attractive.

In this third Lyrebird Music issue of Tudor and Jacobean keyboard music, editors Jon Baxendale and Francis Knights look at Parthenia and its sister volume’s genesis and discuss some of the myths surrounding their publication, the music and its genesis.