In the Preface of his admirable contribution to the Oxford History of Music (Vol. III.) the late Sir Hubert Parry writes: "The seventeenth cen-tury is musically almost a blank, even to those who take more than the average interest in the Art; and barely a score of composers` names during the whole time suggest anything more than a mere reputation to modern ears." Of course the distinguished author is speaking of the musical world in general, not of our own country`s music only. I am inclined to think it is a little severe on us. I have always found that great interest is taken in the 17th century music and musicians of Eng-land.