The Anthems of Thomas Weelkes

Extract

The association's calendar of events for this session announces that this paper is to be a ‘general survey’ of Thomas Weelkes's church music. I trust I shall not incur too much of your displeasure when I say that I am not going to follow this statement of intentions. I have not lightly modified my plans; let me explain the reasons that have induced me to do so. First, the volume of the complete anthems of Weelkes which is promised in Musica Britannica is still, alas, only a promise. It will appear very shortly, but it has proved impossible to have it to hand for this present meeting. This makes a detailed study of the anthems less useful here, for I would be talking about works which, in some cases, my audience would have had no chance of knowing. My decision has also been influenced by the fact that a full study of Weelkes's church music will appear in print in due course. If I may be permitted a ‘commercial’, may I give notice that the American scholar, Walter Collins, and I will in due course be publishing a study of Weelkes in which Dr. Collins will be dealing comprehensively with the church music. I should at this point acknowledge my indebtedness to both Dr. Collins and Dr. Peter le Huray, my fellow editors of the forthcoming Musica Britannica volume; our corporate edition has provided most of the material upon which this paper is based. I must also acknowledge Dr. Collins’ additional work in transcribing all Weelkes's anthems which have survived in a form too fragmentary to make practical publication worth while; I have also been able to make use of these transcriptions. On the other hand, all the ensuing assertions and opinions are ones for which I take the sole responsibility.