ABSTRACT
Music was a crucial part of the ‘theatrical experience’ in the drama of Shirley’s time.1 It gave important cues for the understanding of particular scenes; it supplied atmosphere and entertainment for a captive audience, and it added acoustic colour to individual characters. Songs, instrumental music, and dance supplemented the performances, thus complementing the theatrical vocabulary of the period. This essay provides a survey of the various functions and uses of song and music in Shirley’s drama. It takes account of performance conditions in indoor playhousesthe arena of Shirley’s plays-and introduces some professional musicians and composers who were at Shirley’s disposal. To illustrate the musical richness across Shirley’s oeuvre, I will provide scores for several of Shirley’s songs and poems, and conclude with a detailed analysis of his masques.
