The Pursuit of Musick is an encyclopedic and generously illustrated anthology of original written sources, exploring some 600 years of musical activity in Europe, from the first troubadours to the emergence of the pianoforte. Through this book Andrew Parrott presents an extraordinary treasure trove of material documenting myriad ways in which our recent ancestors engaged with music. And, exceptionally, it is almost entirely through their words – their images, too – that such experiences are here vividly evoked.

The resultant book aims to lend itself equally to leisurely browsing, quick reference and close study, and to be simultaneously authoritative and approachable, allowing general readers and specialists alike to tap into invaluable seams of original source material. Arranged in three main parts (Society, Ideas, Performance), its principal chapters are supplemented by shorter ones exploring related and intriguing byways. Occasional thematic introductions (by Hugh Griffith) and four distinctive appendices contribute further to the book’s unique and characterful nature.

One of Presto Music's Books of the Year 2023 - for more information click here.

‘The originality and uniqueness of this book cannot be overstated. It’s a version of musical history which we always needed but could never have imagined. ... Above all, the voice, spirit, industry and engagement of musicians (so often omitted from history in favour of didactic theorists) are always forefronted in this persuasive demonstration of how music came to be the way it is.’ Judith Weir, Master of the King’s Music

‘For anyone with a love of music, Andrew Parrott’s pioneering The Pursuit of Musick is bound to be a life-changing experience. His book is a model of intellectual curiosity ... drawing upon a breathtaking array of primary sources to illuminate our ancestors’ engagement with music ... We can never fully comprehend the place of music in earlier times, but Andrew Parrott’s narrative takes us as close as we are ever likely to get.’ Colin Lawson, Director, Royal College of Music

‘Andrew Parrott’s The Pursuit of Musick is the spectacular result of a wonderful career dedicated to enlivening our understanding and experience of “early music”. ... [Nothing comparable] has ever been attempted on quite this scale and with such flair for the multiplicity of musical experience ... and the final touch is the sumptuous visual evidence that adorns every section.’ John Butt, conductor & Professor, University of Glasgow

‘A breathtaking journey through music history…the first of its kind: an open book for anyone - music lover and professional alike - who wants to find out more about music, art and social history, and who loves the idea of getting it straight from the horse’s mouth.’ — BBC Music Magazine

‘Magisterial…a superb achievement…I have already lost many an evening to this book, enjoying passages both familiar and lesser known.’ — Gramophone

‘Luscious • a mosaic of music history... I am delighted to have on my shelf’ — Early Music (Oxford University Press)

‘It is difficult to describe Andrew Parrott’s magnificent book … except with superlatives.’ – Royal College of Organists

‘Across the land, early music enthusiasts will be greeting this magnificent tome with heartfelt cries of “Where have you been all my life?” …an astonishing library of six centuries of material…a superb gallery of 560 images’ — Choir & Organ

'a majestic work … a truly heroic feat … a completely extraordinary book … the question is whether it will ever be surpassed’. –– Journal of the Czech Musicological Society

‘Remarkable and beautifully produced…this magnificent publication is surely going to be an obligatory part of any music library’ — Early Music Review

‘This magnificent…uniquely capacious cornucopia…deserves a place in all musical educational establishments’ — Galpin Society Journal

£35 (paperback) and £65 (hardback) - ‘which frankly seems like a bargain’ — Planet Hugill