Elizabethan parties often consisted of fancy banquets and exquisite feasts. The meals would have been wonderful, consisting of new foods and imported spices crafted from the finest ingredients. The cooks would have been hired by nobles and pressured to meet the high standards of French banquets. The tables would have been elaborately decorated with feathers, branches, and scented flowers. In the center of the table, banners would have images of the coats-of-arms of those who were honored at the feast. The dishes would consist of fine meats, meat pies, wafers, jellies, cheeses, pastries, fruits, and wines. The Elizabethan Royalty, nobility, and upper classes were often the only people eligible to attend these lavish parties.
Masques were also a popular form of entertainment by the upper class, and they consisted of pantomiming and dancing. The party-goers would wear masks and be anonymous. Masques originated in Italy, but they reached their popularity peak in the 16th and 17th centuries after Queen Elizabeth made them elaborate through the use of costumes, sets, and effects. Women were allowed to attend masques, which was different from typical parties of the time.
Dancing was often a large part of the parties. Queen Elizabeth loved dancing, and she expected the members of her court to be skilled dancers. The upper classes and royalty performed sophisticated dances such as the Roundel, Volta, Tordion, and Galliard. They often hired dancing masters to learn these dances. On the other hand, the common citizens performed country dances that were passed down through the generations and had special meanings.
Music was also necessary at parties. Queen Elizabeth was a skilled musician and loved music. She allowed traveling musicians and minstrels to perform in the courts. These musicians sang songs about ancient legends, love, and many other topics. They performed many different types of music, like church music, dance music, street music, theatre music, and ballads. Musical instruments, such as the lute, trumpet, and harp, were used to accompany the singers.
Masques were also a popular form of entertainment by the upper class, and they consisted of pantomiming and dancing. The party-goers would wear masks and be anonymous. Masques originated in Italy, but they reached their popularity peak in the 16th and 17th centuries after Queen Elizabeth made them elaborate through the use of costumes, sets, and effects. Women were allowed to attend masques, which was different from typical parties of the time.
Dancing was often a large part of the parties. Queen Elizabeth loved dancing, and she expected the members of her court to be skilled dancers. The upper classes and royalty performed sophisticated dances such as the Roundel, Volta, Tordion, and Galliard. They often hired dancing masters to learn these dances. On the other hand, the common citizens performed country dances that were passed down through the generations and had special meanings.
Music was also necessary at parties. Queen Elizabeth was a skilled musician and loved music. She allowed traveling musicians and minstrels to perform in the courts. These musicians sang songs about ancient legends, love, and many other topics. They performed many different types of music, like church music, dance music, street music, theatre music, and ballads. Musical instruments, such as the lute, trumpet, and harp, were used to accompany the singers.
A sample of Elizabethan masque music.
Sources Cited:
Alchin, Linda. "Elizabethan Banquet & Feast." Elizabethan Banquet & Feast. N.p., 20 Mar. 2012. Web. 07 Jan. 2014.
Dogra, Aastha. "Elizabethan Era." Buzzle.com. Buzzle.com, 28 Sept. 2011. Web. 07 Jan. 2014.
Anderson, Lily, and Sievey Jackson. "Masques - Parties of the Elizabethan Era." Prezi.com. Prezi Inc., 29 Mar. 2012. Web. 07 Jan. 2014.
Scheidies, Carolyn. "Social Activities in Elizabethan Times." EHow. Demand Media, 13 Jan. 2011. Web. 07 Jan. 2014.