What kinds of songs were played in the time of Romeo and Juliet?

Question

can someone tell me what type of music was played at the time of Romeo and Juliet and where i can download the songs? Songs and places to download them??

Answer 1

Stephen Warbeck's Oscar winning original score for "Shakespeare in Love" has some pieces that were written in the style of Elizabethan music.

The youtube snippet is of a dance where Shakespeare meets Viola. This scene is the one that is mimicked when he writes the play. Here is the equivalent scene from the R&J

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* Romeo. [To a Servingman] What lady is that, which doth enrich the hand Of yonder knight?

* Servant. I know not, sir.

    * Romeo. O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

      It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night

      Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear;

      Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!

      So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, 670

      As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows.

      The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand,

      And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.

      Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!

      For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. 675

    * Tybalt. This, by his voice, should be a Montague.

      Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave

      Come hither, cover'd with an antic face,

      To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?

      Now, by the stock and honour of my kin, 680

      To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.

..... MISSING LINES

    * Romeo. [To JULIET] If I profane with my unworthiest hand

      This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: 720

      My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand

      To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

    * Juliet. Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,

      Which mannerly devotion shows in this;

      For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, 725

      And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.

    * Romeo. Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

    * Juliet. Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.

    * Romeo. O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;

      They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. 730

    * Juliet. Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.

    * Romeo. Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.

      Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged.

    * Juliet. Then have my lips the sin that they have took.

    * Romeo. Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged! 735

      Give me my sin again.

    * Juliet. You kiss by the book.

    * Nurse. Madam, your mother craves a word with you.

    * Romeo. What is her mother?

    * Nurse. Marry, bachelor, 740

      Her mother is the lady of the house,

      And a good lady, and a wise and virtuous

      I nursed her daughter, that you talk'd withal;

      I tell you, he that can lay hold of her

      Shall have the chinks. 745

    * Romeo. Is she a Capulet?

      O dear account! my life is my foe's debt.

    * Benvolio. Away, begone; the sport is at the best.

    * Romeo. Ay, so I fear; the more is my unrest.

    * Capulet. Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone; 750

      We have a trifling foolish banquet towards.

      Is it e'en so? why, then, I thank you all

      I thank you, honest gentlemen; good night.

      More torches here! Come on then, let's to bed.

      Ah, sirrah, by my fay, it waxes late: 755

      I'll to my rest.

[Exeunt all but JULIET and Nurse]

    * Juliet. Come hither, nurse. What is yond gentleman?

    * Nurse. The son and heir of old Tiberio.

    * Juliet. What's he that now is going out of door? 760

    * Nurse. Marry, that, I think, be young Petrucio.

    * Juliet. What's he that follows there, that would not dance?

    * Nurse. I know not.

    * Juliet. Go ask his name: if he be married.

      My grave is like to be my wedding bed. 765

    * Nurse. His name is Romeo, and a Montague;

      The only son of your great enemy.

    * Juliet. My only love sprung from my only hate!

      Too early seen unknown, and known too late!

      Prodigious birth of love it is to me, 770

      That I must love a loathed enemy.

    * Nurse. What's this? what's this?

    * Juliet. A rhyme I learn'd even now

      Of one I danced withal.