T. Morley. A Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practicall Musicke, 1597

Morley, Thomas

[A Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practicall Musicke, set downe in forme of a dialogue, London: Peter Short, 1597]

FIRST EDITION, [2], 183 & [35] pages, folio (28.2 x 18.6cm), epistle to the reader, type-set music throughout, including 7 double-page pieces printed in table format (one motet printed in red and black), some woodcut music and diagrams, 14-line historiated initials, errata list on last page of the 'Annotations', p.52 misnumbered as p.25 as called for in Deutsch's variant 'A' of the first edition, the errata emended in manuscript throughout, a few contemporary and some modern pencil annotations, disbound, lacking first two leaves (including title), supplied in photocopy, B1 and B2 detached and repaired at hinge with translucent adhesive tape, Bb5 slightly cropped at lower margin, small tears to last two leaves, with loss, affecting the text, a few repairs to small marginal tears, tiny hole to pp.3/4, pp.3-11 torn at lower inner corner, some creasing to corners, modern annotated paper slip affixed to least leaf with translucent adhesive tape, some browning and damp-staining 

This book is "perhaps the most famous musical treatise in the English language" (TNG). It draws on Morley's own experience as a composer and his extensive study of music, including quotations from Striggio, Renaldi, Piggot and others as well as from his own works. The music at the end of the volume is printed in so-called 'table format' (i.e., the parts are appropriately orientated for the singers seat round a table).

LITERATURE:

ESTC S111843; STC 18133; Hirsch, i 416; Gregory & Bartlett, p.188; RISM Écrits, p. 598; O.E. Deutsch, 'The editions of Morley's Introduction', The Library, Vol. s4-XXIII, Issue 2-3 (1 September 1942), pp.127–129