Music and Musicians on the London Stage, 1695–1705

Kathryn Lowerre is a musicologist and an editor of John Eccles’ collected works (A-R Editions). She has taught at Michigan State University, Colby College, and the University of Michigan, USA

• Contents: Prologue: rival crews: music and musicians in the London theaters; Part I The Place and Function of Music in Dramatic Productions: Musical approaches in comedy; Musical tragedies and dramatick operas. Part II Music and Musicians in Theatrical Competition: Initiation, 1695-1697; Competition, 1698-1700; Power shift, 1700-1703; Realignment, 1703-1705; Epilogue; Appendices: Selected bibliography; Indexes.

'Lowerre is a musicologist, but she draws seriously and competently on the relevant scholarship and reference books in theatre history... Lowerre has added usefully to our grasp of musical practice in the turn-of-the-century period...' Music & Letters '... Lowerre's considerable understanding of the repertoire and contemporary events allows her to place the works in their historical context, highlighting social commentaries and intertextual references that occur between pieces and filling in gaps in our knowledge of works and performers through logical deduction where relevant.' Journal of British Studies 'Kathryn Lowerre has produced a detailed and scholarly account of English stage music in an often-ignored period and shows that there is much of lively interest in the decade from the last year of Henry Purcell’s life to the advent of all-sung opera in London. This book will prove invaluable to students of both music and the theatre.' Olive Baldwin and Thelma Wilson 'The book supplies an important basis for anyone who wishes to enter the field of English theatre over the next few years.' Fontes Artis Musicae