This sixteenth and seventeenth century stage entertainment combined poetry, music, singing, dancing and acting. It was first composed by and for the Courts of Italy and France. Then it was imported to England. Masques normally dealt with mythological subjects offered in elaborate scenery. Frequently the setting was pastoral.
Masques were popular at the English courts of Elizabeth and James I. The poet/composer Thomas Campion provided both lyrics and music for court performances, as did his contemporary Philip Rosseter. Masques were probably also interpolated in court performances of plays, such as Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream.
Between 1715 and 1729 opera was briefly out of fashion with fickle London theatregoers. At that time, Handel, amongst other composers, abandoned opera to write masques instead.
