Fitzwilliam is a male name of English origin, meaning "Son Of William." This name has historical significance and is commonly associated with notable individuals and places. It is often used as a surname and is linked to titles in the Peerage of Ireland and the Peerage of Great Britain. Additionally, there are several locations, including towns and landmarks, bearing the name Fitzwilliam, such as Fitzwilliam in West Yorkshire, England, and Fitzwilliam Strait in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The name also has cultural significance, as it is associated with Fitzwilliam College and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, England. Moreover, Fitzwilliam Darcy, a character from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, has contributed to the name's literary prominence.
The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, a significant primary source of keyboard music from the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean periods in England, is housed at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. The collection was bequeathed to Cambridge University by Viscount Fitzwilliam in 1816. It is a valuable compilation of keyboard music, encompassing works by renowned composers such as John Bull, William Byrd, Orlando Gibbons, and Giles Farnaby, among others. The manuscript, which contains approximately 298 pieces, reflects the transitional period from the late Renaissance to the early Baroque era. Notably, Richard Strauss incorporated selections from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book into his opera, Die schweigsame Frau, in 1935. The first recording of selections from the anthology was made by Joseph Payne in 1964. The book's contents are versatile and suitable for various contemporary keyboard instruments, including virginals, harpsichord, clavichord, and chamber organ. Its historical significance and musical richness have led to several editions and publications, including a recent three-volume edition by English music scholars Jon Baxendale and Francis Knights.
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