Nostr Web Client

i was reading about a Renaissance composer last night, and saw the phrase, 'was granted monopoly use of fonts by the Queen'. The Crown couldnt keep people from composing music, but they could monopolize control over the printing press fonts required to print the music for mass consumption, limiting reach.

The forces of centralized Empire and greed that the free people of the world are working to overcome are old animals. And each generation needs to hack away at the legs they stand on until they fall.

Mutiny Brewing 1y ago

That's fascinating, can you share a pic of the page or the source?

Reply to this note

Please Login to reply.

Discussion

atyh 1y ago

I wish I could. I don’t remember his name. It was one of those Wikipedia rabbit holes where you’ve clicked on like 20 links and can’t recall how you even got there 🤷

maybe it’s in my browser history…

atyh 1y ago

It was Thomas Tallis. He was granted a 21 year monopoly by Queen Elizabeth 1 in 1575, for polyphonic music, and a patent to print and publish sets of songs,

as well as exclusive use of “official music paper”.

But as Catholics, they were forbidden from selling imported music. I have no idea what that means, but that is what it says.

Mutiny Brewing 1y ago

Awesome. Thanks.