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"Now Is the Month of Maying" is a five-part English ballett by Thomas Morley, published in his First Book of Balletts to Five Voyces in 1595. Its text celebrates springtime dancing and courtship, while its repeated "fa la la" refrain reflects the light, dance-derived character of the ballett form. W...
"April Is in My Mistress' Face" is a secular four-part madrigal by the English composer Thomas Morley, published in his First Book of Madrigals to Four Voices in 1594. Its brief text maps the seasons onto a woman's changing appearance: April in her face, July in her eyes, September in her breast, an...
"My bonnie lass she smileth" is a five-voice ballett by English Renaissance composer Thomas Morley, published in his First Book of Balletts to Five Voyces in 1595. Its light secular text, clear rhythmic profile, repeated sections, and characteristic "fa la la" refrains reflect the influence of the I...
Thomas Morley’s “Now is the Month of Maying” is a Renaissance madrigal for five voices, composed around 1595. This piece, part of his First Book of Ballets, captures the spirit of spring through its energetic rhythm and characteristic ‘fa-la’ melody. It was intended for performance in courtly settin...
A lively canzonet by Morley depicting the burning passion of love, characteristic of his playful, lighter style and his role in popularizing Italian forms in England.
Pastoral madrigal by John Farmer from his First Set of English Madrigals (1599), affectionately describing a charming country girl in a light-hearted, dance-like style.
"My Bonny Lass She Smileth" is an English ballett composed by Thomas Morley, published in his "First Book of Balletts" in 1595. As a prominent example of the English madrigal style, the piece features the characteristic nonsense syllables, specifically the "fa-la" refrain, that define the ballett ge...
'Lady, those cherries plenty' is a canzonet by Thomas Morley (1557–1602), an English composer whose lighter vocal works were central to popularizing the Italian style in England.
Light pastoral madrigal by Thomas Morley, one of several playful pieces by the English composer whose publications in the 1590s helped popularize the English madrigal form.
“Hark, All Ye Lovely Saints Above” is an English madrigal by Thomas Weelkes, published in The Triumphs of Oriana in 1601. The anthology, assembled by Thomas Morley, consists of secular works honoring Oriana, a poetic name associated with Queen Elizabeth I. Weelkes's setting has a lively, dance-influ...
“Sing We and Chant It” is an English ballett by Thomas Morley, published in his First Book of Balletts to Five Voyces in 1595. Adapted from the Italian ballett tradition, it uses a light secular text, regular dance-like rhythms, repeated sections, and characteristic “fa-la-la” refrains. The piece is...
