Early English Organ Music Vol. 2

European organ music, as it has been handed down in some form of instrumental notation, might have begun in England, since the earliest known source to contain keyboard music in tablature dates from the 14th century - the Robertsbridge Codex of 1325-50. Like much English music, the keyboard repertory developed separately from that of the Continent, not only because of geographic reasons, but due to religious considerations, and the instruments themselves were subject to the sinuous events of English political upheaval. At times the effects were disastrous: church organs virtually disappeared during the Commonwealth. They were destroyed or sold for the price of the metal they contained. Indeed, all musical activity suffered the repercussions and tyranny of an intransigent religion.

Because there are enormous gaps in documented information and very few old English organs that remain, no comprehensive history of the Englis