No period of English music is in greater need of revaluation than the 18th century. Its history has yet to be written. In general there is a complete lack of biographical and critical literature. Documents and letters are practically non-existent. Work remains uncollected and judgments are still based on 19th century estimates, which were founded upon insufficient knowledge and less understanding. Until recently most new editions of the period attempted to fit the 18th century view-point into a 19th century canon, and they were not only stylistically bad but often texturally incorrect. The revival of any unfamiliar work of the period was, and still is, too often greeted with patronising disparagement or remarks about the superiority of Handel. That these composers were not of the stature of Handel can never be denied; but we should remember Francis Quarles's “if he cannot bring a cedar let him bring a shrub.” That they were individuals, with styles of their own, was perfectly clear to their contemporaries and is equally clear to us today once we penetrate the common language of their age sufficiently to understand the varying intonations of those who used it.