Music and Society in Early Modern England

Christopher Marsh is a Reader in Early Modern History at Queen's University Belfast. His previous publications include The Family of Love in English Society (Cambridge University Press, 1994) and Popular Religion in Sixteenth-Century England (1998). He is also the author of the satirical novel A Year in the Province (2009).

Review of the hardback: 'A real ear-opener of a book. Chris Marsh's wonderfully engaging panorama of the musical culture of early modern England reconnects us to a vital lost dimension of lived experience. A superb achievement.' Peter Marshall, University of Warwick

• Introduction; 1. The power of music; 2. Occupational musicians: denigration and defence; 3. Occupational musicians: employment prospects; 4. Recreational musicians; 5. Ballads and their audience; 6. Balladry and the meanings of melody; 7. 'The skipping art': dance and society; 8. Parish church music: the rise of the 'singing psalms'; 9. Parish church music: bells and their ringers; Conclusion; Appendix; Bibliography.