Shakespeare s Musical Imagery

Music pervades Shakespeare'swork. In addition to vocal songs and numerous instrumental cues there arethousands of references to music throughout the plays and many of the poems.This book discusses Shakespeare's musical imagery according to categories definedby occurrence in the plays and poems. In turn, these categories depend on theirearly modern usage and significance. Thus, instruments such as lute and violdeserve special attention just as Renaissance ideas relating to musicalphilosophy and pedagogical theory need contextual explanation. The objective isto locate Shakespeare's musical imagery, reference and metaphor in itsimmediate context in a play or poem and explain its meaning. Discussion andexplanation of the musical imagery suggests a range of possible dramatic andpoetic purposes these musical references serve.