The Purcell selections are in part excerpts from operas & incidental music; 12th-15th & 17th selections are hymns; 18th track is a harpsichord solo. The Britten work is a song cycle.

Texts of the Britten from poems by Thomas Hardy.

Compact disc.

Originally issued on analog discs in 1978 (Purcell) & 1977 (Britten).

Program notes by Peter Pirie and song texts inserted in container.

Sweeter than roses (from Pausanias; text by Norton)

Ah how sweet it is to love (from Tyrannic lover; text, Dryden)

Oh lead me to some peaceful gloom (from Bonduca; text, Beaumont & Fletcher)

Music for a while (text, Dryden & Lee)

If music be the food of love (1st setting; text, Heveningham)

Man, that is for woman made (from Mock Marriage; text, Thomas Scott)

I attempt from love's sickness to fly (from The Indian Queen; text, Dryden)

I see she flies me ev'rywhere (from Aurenz-Zebe; text, Dryden)

Take not a woman's anger ill (from Rival Sisters; text, Robert Gould)

Since from dear Astraea's sight (from Dioclesian; text, Beaumont & Fletcher)

I'll sail upon the dog-star (from A Fool's Preferment; text, Tom Durfey)

A morning hymn (text, Fuller)

Let the night perish (Job's Curse; text, Taylor)

Lord, what is man, lost man (A Divine Hymn; text, Fuller)

The earth trembled (On Our Savior's Passion; text, Quarles)

Crown the altar (from Birthday Ode for Queen Mary: "Celebrate the festival")

An evening hymn (words, Fuller)

A new ground [harpsichord solo] / Purcell.

Winter words : op. 52. At day close in November ; Midnight on the Great Western ; Wagtail and baby ; The little old table ; The choirmaster's burial ; Proud songsters ; At the railway station, Upway ; Before life and after / Britten.

Hardy, Thomas, 1840-1928 > Musical settings.

Operas > Excerpts.

Incidental music > Excerpts.