This work investigates the life, lineage, and musical contributions of Orlando Gibbons, positioning him as the final significant figure of the Tudor school of musicians. Edmund H. Fellowes, a noted musicologist and authority on the English madrigal and church music, utilizes primary source documents, including wills and letters of administration, to reconstruct the family history and professional trajectory of the Gibbons family. The text provides a rigorous examination of Orlando's output across church, secular vocal, and instrumental genres, contextualizing his work within the broader evolution of English music.

This text is regarded as a foundational musicological study that provides essential historical context for the Tudor musical tradition. The scholarly approach and reliance on archival documentation make it a standard reference for researchers interested in the life and work of Orlando Gibbons.