The flourishing of secular music in England during the late Renaissance, the social environment in which it took place and the first steps towards a music profession and a music publishing trade are key elements within this book. Household music of families of varying importance is examined, shedding light on the relationship between these patrons and their musicians, on the role of the Church and the Court, on the astonishing advances in musical literacy and refinement, and on the importance of the Grand Tour and its contribution to the spread of European (especially Italian) musical...