This book investigates the origins, development, and cultural significance of the royal string band at the English court from 1540 to 1690. Peter Holman, a noted musicologist and director of The Parley of Instruments, utilizes extensive archival research and primary source documentation to reconstruct the history of this ensemble. He argues that the introduction of the Italian viol consort by Henry VIII catalyzed a shift in English musical practice, positioning the violin as a central instrument in courtly life and performance throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Musicologists and historians recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the institutional history of the English court string band. Readers frequently note the academic rigor and the depth of the archival research presented throughout the volume.