The distinguished English composer Maurice Greene was appointed Master of the King’s Music in 1735. He soon composed a series of 25 sonnet settings taken from the collection of 89 Amoretti (‘little loves’) written by Edmund Spenser, one of the greatest poets of the Shakespearean age. These settings show Greene to have been a master of word-painting technique, and a subtle colourist with a sensitive ear for Spenser’s verse.

This jewel of a collection is also historically important, as it can be considered one of the earliest song cycles in the history of English music.

Contents:
• After so long a race
• Happy ye leaves
• Faire Eyes
• Ye tradefull merchants
• The rolling wheele
• The merry Cuckow
• How long shall this like dying life endure
• The Laurell leafe
• Like as a ship
• What guile is this
• Arion
• Sweet smile
• Marke when the smiles
• The Love which me so cruelly tormenteth
• Trust not the treason of those smiling lookes
• Fayre cruell
• Faire yee be sure
• Thrise happy she
• After long stormes
• Like as a huntsman
• Fresh Spring
• One day I wrote her name upon the strand
• Lacking my love
• Since I did leave the presence of my love
• Like as the Culver