LucyWorsleyinvestigatesthestoryofthemostremarkablecreationfromthetumultuousandviolenteraknownastheReformation-choralevensong.
HenryVIIIlovedreligiousmusic,buthelovedpowermore-whenheinstigatedhisEnglishReformationhedramaticallysplitfromtheancientCatholicchurchthatcontrolledmuchofhiscountry.Butindoingsosetintomotionchangesthatwouldfundamentallytransformthereligiousmusicheloved.
FollowingElizabethI'spersonalstory,Lucyrecountshowsheandhertwosiblingswereshapedbythechangestheirfatherinstigated.ElizabethwitnessedbothherradicallypuritanbrotherEdwardbringchurchmusictotheverybrinkofdestructionandtheterrifyingreversalsmadebyhersisterMary-whichsawherthrownintheTowerofLondonforcedtobegforherlife.
WhenElizabethfinallytookpowershewasdeterminedtofindareligiouscompromise-sheresurrectedtheProtestantreligionofherbrother,butkeptthemusicofherbelovedfather-musicthatshetooadored.Anditwasintheevocativeserviceofchoralevensongthatherideasaboutreligiousmusicfoundtheirultimateexpression.
