Date:Early 17th century (published 1611) Description:The Maid She Went a-Milking by Thomas Ravenscroft is a lively, light-hearted English folk song with a humorous and playful character. It tells the story of a young maid who goes milking, with the repeated refrain emphasizing the innocence and simplicity of the task. This …
Date:1609 Description:“I Pray You Good Mother” is a charming English song by Thomas Ravenscroft, included in his Deuteromelia (1609). This piece is a three-part round (catch) and is a good example of the playful and conversational nature of English madrigals and catches from the period. The song has a catchy, …
Date:Early 16th century (c. 1500–1520) Description:“Pleni sunt Caeli” is a sacred Latin motet composed by Pierre de la Rue, a prominent Flemish composer of the Renaissance. The title, meaning “Heaven and earth are full of Your glory,” is taken from the Sanctus of the Catholic Mass. This motet is characterised …
Date:16th century (likely composed c. 1590) Description:“Phyllis Farewell” is a Renaissance English madrigal composed by Thomas Belston, a lesser-known English composer of the period. The piece is a parting song in which the singer bids farewell to Phyllis, a beloved figure. Like many madrigals of the time, it blends themes …
Date:14th century (melody); text found in Piae Cantiones, 1582 Description:“Personent Hodie” is a Latin Christmas carol with medieval origins, widely associated with the collection Piae Cantiones, a book of songs preserved in Finland and first published in 1582. The melody likely dates from the 14th century and is sometimes linked …
Ad Fundam is a latin term which has different meanings depending on context – it means ‘ from the bottom’ and is often used as a toast ‘Bottoms up’ but can be interpreted as ‘Back to Basics’ it has been chosen because of this duality as many of the classes …
Date:Late 15th century or early 16th century Description:Tinternell is a lively and well-known dance tune, often associated with the Renaissance period. It is commonly categorised as a volta, a type of dance in triple time. The melody is bright and repetitive, with a rhythmic structure that invites movement, making it …
Date:Late 16th century Description:The Scottish Bransle (also spelled branle or brawl) is a Renaissance dance tune included in Thoinot Arbeau’s Orchésographie (1589), a dance manual that describes popular dances of the time along with their music and choreography. Despite its name, the Scottish Bransle is not of Scottish origin but …
Date:Late 16th century (likely composed c. 1590s) Description:The Queen’s Alman is a well-known example of a Renaissance dance, specifically an alman, which was a popular courtly dance in the late 16th century. The alman is generally a lively, upbeat dance in duple time (4/4), often characterised by its steady rhythm …
Date:Published 1609 (in Pammelia) Description:“O my love” is a light-hearted English round (catch or canon) from the early 17th century, featured in Thomas Ravenscroft’s Pammelia, the first known collection of rounds and canons in English. It belongs to a popular tradition of convivial and often humorous part-singing intended for domestic …