This second volume of Martin Peerson's complete works contains the twenty-four
songs published in 1620 in the collection Private Musicke or the First Booke of Ayres and Dialogues.
Fourteen songs (including Upon my lap my soveraigne sits, Peerson's only work well known today)
are in four parts; eight are in five; and two (including an ambitious setting of
Ben Jonson's poem See, O see who is heere come a-maying composed for the royal May-day celebrations
in 1604) are in six. Mingling pieces in a thoroughly madrigalian all-vocal style with others that require
instrumental participation (ideally a consort of viols, or a keyboard instrument or a lute, or even a
solo bass viol), the collection illustrates the variety of English song during the reign of James I.
Also included are six songs from manuscript sources: four three-part arrangements of songs
from Private Musicke and two others that may be by Peerson. For various combinations of treble, alto, tenor
and bass voices, plus instruments. Score xvi + 64 pages; instrumental parts for viols are also available (Ref AB4 parts, price GBP 14.00).
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