Enlarged and best edition of one of the most important Dutch songbooks from the 17th century.
Beautifully produced in an elegant oblong size, and printed in various types, including a fine Civilité type. The present work contains wedding songs, love songs, pastoral songs, drinking songs, occasional poems, as well as a song about the origin of the smoking of tobacco. The present edition is the third, which has been enlarged in both text and illustrations.
Jan Jansz. Starter, (really John Startutt, 1593-1626), was of English origin, and from 1614 to 1621 bookseller and publisher at Leeuwarden, hence the title Friesche lusthof for his songbook, first published in 1621. Together with Bredero (1585-1618), Starter became one of the most popular poets and playwrights of the early 17th century. He worked together with composer Jacques Vredeman (ca. 1563-1621) in Leeuwarden, who contributed a great deal to the popularity of the songbook. Many of the songs were based on English songs, taken from The first book of songes and ayres (1600) by Robert Jones, and Thomas Deloney's Garland of delight (late 16th century). From other songs the sources are still unknown, including "Is Bommelarire so pritty soo groote geneughd", which is set to the music of the tune "Was Bommelarire so pritty a play". The fine plates by Jan van de Velde (1593-1641), a pupil of Jacob Matham, the step-son of Golzius, beautifully illustrate the songs with pastoral and courtly scenes, several shown at night with only the moon and the stars to lighten the scene.
The edges and corners of the boards are very slightly scuffed, the spine is rubbed, affecting the final word of the title. The work is very slightly browned throughout, lacking two blank leaves (2C4 and F4). Otherwise in good condition. Goovaerts 565; Kleerkoper, Starter, p. 36; Scheurleer, Liedboeken, p. 147;STCN 842326928 (5 copies); USTC 1029946 (5 copies); Van Someren 5127a; cf. Brink, J. ten, G.A. Bredero, pp. 159-191; Brouwer, J. H., Jan Jansz, Starter.