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The Golden Age In The Elizabethan Era

Decent Essays

The Elizabethan era was a time full of superstition and persecution, however it was also the beginning of a new age, The Golden Age as it is commonly referred to. During this time the people of England were beginning to progress, in a scientific and artistic way. Music wasn’t the only thing that was developing, science and philosophy were also flourishing.
There was a reason that music began to become an everyday part of life under Queen Elizabeth’s rule. The queen herself even had a musical background and it was well-known that music was her favorite art form. She also took a great interest in supporting experienced musicians and composers. From Elizabeth’s interest in the arts, her people went from generational family songs to reformed masterpieces from great men, such as William Byrd, Thomas Morley, and Thomas Weelkes. The society and culture that Queen Elizabeth helped create differentiates from many cultures we have learned about in class. In other cultures, such as China, someone who has career in the arts is typically seen as a lower social class citizen, whereas in England the making of an educated and upper class man must be fluent in musical theory. We can tell by an excerpt from The Compleat Gentleman written by Henry Peacham in 1622, that the basic role of a gentleman was “to sing your part sure, and at first sight, withall, to play the same upon your viol, or exercise of the lute.”
During this time there was a wide variety of instruments used and some are

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