Dedications in Morley's Printed Music

Abstract

Morley started to publish his secular music in 1593, and maintained an average of more than a volume per year seen through the press until his death in 1602. This article attempts to discover whether there were any discernible motives for dedicating works to particular patrons thereby invoking their support. Such motives may well not be apparent today removed as we are from the everyday pressures and needs of an Elizabethan musician, and Morley may even have wished to conceal his reasons for adopting certain particular patrons for his publications - possibly to avoid allegations of nepotism or unfair dealings - even if he wanted the outward display of their public support. But searching for motives behind some of the dedications is not totally futile even if it is, for lack of concrete evidence, necessarily mostly speculative.