Estimated reading time:
1 min read
Jennifer Richards and Magnus Williamson met with Simon Jackson and Richard Wistreich in Cambridge in May 2025 to explore copies of the three editions of Charles Butler's Feminine Monarchie (1609, 1623, 1634) in the Munby Rare Books Reading Room, Cambridge University Library, and to reflect on the strangeness of Butler's 'Melissomelos' in performance with members of the Choir of Peterhouse in Peterhouse Chapel. Linking these two conversations is our interest in Butler's unusual decision to present his bee song in table-book format, a layout that optimises sociability as Richard also explains here. You can listen to Simon's earlier work on 'Melissomelos' in performance in 2017 here, and to the full song performed for the first time by project collaborators Ensemble Pro Victoria in Newcastle University's King's Hall in 2024 here.
With thanks to the video producer, Willow Hazell, and the production team: Ka Ki Wong, Oli Robertshaw, Simone Carty, Myles Eastwood.