Purcell, Henry - Cease, anxious World - Reveuse (La)

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The civil war culminated in the decapitation of King Charles 1 was a dark period of English history; yet, in musical terms, the Puritans led by Olivier Cromwell did not do as much damage as one might have imagined.

By prohibiting public music-making in places of workship and theatres, they contributed to the development of the practice of chamber music between friends in the home, as Roger North point out, not without a touch of humour: 'During the troubles, and when other good arts languished, Musick held up her head, not at Court or profane Theatres, but in private society, for many chose to fiddle at home, than goes out, and be knocked on the head abroad'.