Obs. [n. of action from CONSORT v. and, like the vb., accented conso·rt by all the poets till c. 1612: cf. resort, accord, etc. (A rare OF. consorte ‘union, company, coterie,’ cited by Godef. from a single writer, can hardly have had any connection with this.) In the musical uses (senses 3–6), however, there can be no doubt that consort was from the beginning an erroneous representation of F. concert, It. concerto: this unfamiliar foreign word being, from similarity of pronunciation, confounded with the familiar one, with sense 2 of which it had contiguity of meaning. But in the course of the 18th c. the correct form concert gradually took its place.]
I. Connected with CONSORT v.
1. A number of people consorting together; a fellowship, partnership, company.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., VI. iii. 94. 20 women of that consort … were poisoned.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., IV. i. 64. What saist thou? Wilt thou be of our consort? Say I, and be the captaine of vs all.
1598. Bacon, Sacr. Medit., vii. (Arb.), 117. It is for the good of the Church, that there bee consorts of men freed from the cares of this world.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 541. Among a consort or company of other virgins.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 483. Herein you may heare the concent of a Consort of Authors.
1702. Eng. Theophrast., 130. There is hardly such another pest in a commonwealth as a consort of parasites.
b. A company of ships sailing together.
1591. G. Fletcher, Russe Commw. (Hakluyt), 11. About 17 or 18 fleete of them … which divide themselves into divers companies, five or six boates in a consort.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Conserve, Navires de conserve, ships of a Fleet, or of one consort.
1653, 1699. [see d.].
c. Society, company. Of consort: social.
1607. Walkington, Opt. Glass, 68. A solein monastick life, never … delighted with consort.
1675. Evelyn, Terra (1729), 23. Our Junipers and Cypress … are trees of Consort, and thrive not well alone.
d. In consort: in partnership; in company.
1611. Bible, 2 Kings viii. 16, marg. Jehoram … began to reign in consort with his father.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, Marg. notes, §§ 1 to 17. Experiments in Consort. Ibid., §§ 24 to 35. Experiment Solitary.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xlix. 189. To give advice to the Ships of Bengala, that they should come all carefully in consort together.
1668. Glanvill, Plus Ultra, 52. Instances must be … examined singly and in consort.
1699. Roberts, Voy. Levant, 13. These Corsairs go sometimes in Consort two or three together.
1731. Rape of Helen, i. 20. When you in consort tript Phalacra’s green.
2. Accord; agreement; concurrence. [Related to CONSORT v. 6.]
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. xii. 4. The people … To him assembled with one full consort.
1591. Troub. Raigne K. John, II. (1611), 78. Why shines the Sunne to fauour this consort?
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 246. If you shall change Lewis the twelfth for Lewis the Eleuenth:—then the Consort is more perfect.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. vi. § 30. He is reported to have entailed (by Heaven’s Consort) an hereditary Vertue on his Successours.
b. In consort: in accord; in concert (with which it finally blends).
1634. Ford, P. Warbeck, III. ii. I’ll lend you mirth, sir, If you will be in consort.
1729. T. Cooke, Tales, &c., 43. In Consort to my Friend my Passions move.
1793. Ld. Auckland, Corr. (1861), III. 10. A cordial disposition … to act in consort with me.
II. = CONCERT of music.
3. The accord or harmony of several instruments or voices playing or singing in tune.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1552/2. Both by voice and instruments of consort.
[1588. R. Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China, 173. Diuers instruments, whereon they played with great consort, some one time and some an other.]
1674. Playford, Skill Mus., II. 99. The Tenor-Viol is an excellent inward Part, and much used for Consort.
1695. Blackmore, Pr. Arth., IV. 66. Choice Instruments … in sweet melodious Consort joyn’d.
b. (with a and pl.) A singing or playing in harmony; a harmonious combination of voices or instruments; the harmonious music so produced.
1586. Marlowe, 1st Pt. Tamburl., IV. iv. Methinks ’tis a great deal better than a consort of musick.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., III. ii. 84. Visit by night your Ladies chamber-window With some sweet Consort.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, V. ii. 164. The church, for this same effect, vseth the Consorts of musical instruments.
1626. [see 6].
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 52. Their armes and legs were adorned with Bels, which with the other musique, made a consort.
1705. Stanhope, Paraphr., I. 295. The singing together Consorts of Praise.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 5, ¶ 3. The musick proceeded from a Consort of Flagellets and Bird-calls.
1883. Chappell, in Aldis Wright’s Notes to Shaks. Hen. V., V. ii. 263 (235). Some instruments, such as viols, violins, flutes, etc., were formerly made in sets of four, which when played together formed a ‘consort.’ [Hence, app., the erroneous statement that ‘consort of viols’ was = CHEST of viols: cf. 1880 Grove, Dict. Mus., I. 384.]
c. transf. and fig.
1586. W. Massie, Serm. Trafforde Marriage. There be foure parts in the commonwealth … when these foure partes agree in a sweet consort and melody.
1589. Nashe, Almond for Parrat, 5 b. Talke of a Harmonie of the Churches … heere would be a consort of knauerie.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. i. 40. Wonder was to heare their [birds’] trim consort.
1651. J. F[reake], Agrippa’s Occ. Philos., 259. The Tone of particulars, and proportionated Consorts obeyeth the nine Muses.
1667. Decay Chr. Piety, xix. § 8 (1683), 366. A consort of plaudites.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 418, ¶ 7. His Consorts of Birds may be as full and harmonious.
d. In consort: = in concert.
1621. Quarles, Esther, Div. Poems (1717), 2. The crafty serpent and the fearful Hart Shall join in Consort, and each bear a part.
1707. Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 24. If he join not in Consort with all the Creatures to praise their common God.
a. 1789. Burney, Hist. Mus., I. viii. (ed. 2), 127. Several parts … sung in consort.
4. A company or set of musicians, vocal or instrumental, making music together.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1320/2. A full consort of musike, who plaid still verie dolefull musike.
1606. Holland, Sueton., 262. There were Setts of those also that played uppon the harpe, yea and consorts of such as sung therto, in a quire.
1616. Bullokar, Consort, a company, or a company of Musitions together.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Employment, vi. Lord place me in thy consort; give one strain To my poore reed.
1656. Earl Monm., Advt. fr. Parnass., 320. The ignorant consort of trivial Fidlers.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 160/1. A Consort is many Musitians playing on several Instruments.
1704. Steele, Lying Lover, I. (1747), 22. Each Consort vy’d by turns Which with most Melody shou’d charm our Ears.
5. A musical entertainment in which a number of performers take part: = CONCERT 4.
1671. Evelyn, Diary (1827), II. 357. Sir Joseph … gave us … a handsome supper, and after supper a consort of music.
1697. C’tess D’Aunoy’s Trav. (1706), 258. There’s not a Night passes without foure or five hundred Consorts of Musick, in several parts of the Town.
1708. Hearne, Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), II. 126. A Consort of Musick in ye Theatre.
1727. Farley’s Exeter Jrnl., 24 March. At the large Musical Room … will be held a Consort of Vocal and Instrumental Musick.
1774. Mrs. Delany, Lett., 16 Sept. I had rather hear it than any of their modern Operas and Consorts.
6. attrib.
1607. Dekker, Knt.’s Conjur. To this consort-rome resort none but the children of Phœbus (poets and musitions).
1611. Morley (title), The First Booke of Consort Lessons.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 278. In that Music which we call broken-music or consort-music, some consorts of instruments are sweeter than others.
1674. Playford, Skill Mus., II. 91. The Viol (usually called) de Gambo, or Consort Viol.
1694. Phil. Trans., XVIII. 69. In movements of Consort-Musick.
