King Henry VIII, a monarch often remembered for his tumultuous marital history and the English Reformation, was also a skilled and passionate musician and composer. His lifelong devotion to music is exemplified by an extraordinary collection of his and his contemporaries’ work, the Henry VIII’s Songbook, which is housed in the British Library in London.
This remarkable manuscript, a treasure of the Tudor era, contains over 100 secular compositions. A testament to the king’s own musical talents, 33 of these pieces were penned by Henry himself. The songbook offers a fascinating glimpse into the musical landscape of the early 16th century, beautifully notated and illuminated by a member of the king’s inner circle.
Among the king’s compositions, one stands out for its enduring popularity: Pastime with Good Company. Written in 1509, shortly after his coronation, this catchy and spirited tune with its boisterous lyrics captured the hearts of the English people. Its appeal was so widespread that it transcended the royal court to become a national sensation, solidifying King Henry VIII’s reputation not only as a powerful ruler but also as a gifted and successful composer.
Beyond his compositional achievements, Henry VIII was an accomplished performer on several instruments. His vast personal collection included an impressive array of 78 flutes, 76 recorders, 10 trombones, 14 trumpets, and even 5 bagpipes, underscoring his deep and abiding love for the art of music. This proficiency across a range of skills, from hunting and jousting to poetry and music, paints a picture of a quintessential Renaissance monarch
Henry VIII – Pass time with good company
Pastime with good company
I love and shall unto I die;
Grudge who list, but none deny,
So God be pleased thus live will I.
For my pastance
Hunt, sing, and dance.
My heart is set:
All goodly sport
For my comfort,
Who shall me let?
Youth must have some dalliance,
Of good or illé some pastance;
Company methinks then best
All thoughts and fancies to dejest:
For idleness
Is chief mistress
Of vices all.
Then who can say
But mirth and play
Is best of all?
Company with honesty
Is virtue vices to flee:
Company is good and ill
But every man hath his free will.
The best ensue,
The worst eschew,
My mind shall be:
Virtue to use,
Vice to refuse,
Shall I use me
past time with good company – played by The King’s singers2010
Genre: Renaissance polyphony
monarchy is not anarchyKing Henry VIII playing Pastime with Good Company – generated by gemini AI
- Pastime with good company – The King’s Singers
- www.bl.uk, Henry VIII Songbook c.1518 © British Library
- 1518&projects
- ai content generator
- air-cavitas-oris
- is not – continued since 9 september 2018
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