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The Early Music Show - Milton's Comus

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Comus (A Mask Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634) was a masque written by John Milton in honour of chastity and it was first presented on Michaelmas, 1634, before John Egerton, Earl of Bridgewater at Ludlow Castle in celebration of the Earl's elevation to President of Wales with music by Henry Lawes. Milton and Lawes had a close friendship and collaborated on a number of works, but Lawes was not the last composer to write music for this masque. In Milton's 400th anniversary year, Catherine Bott travels to Ludlow Castle to explore the occasion of that first performance and the music which Comus went on to inspire. The programme includes excerpts from Comus and Milton's sonnet to Lawes: To Mr. H. Lawes, on his Aires read by Robert Glenister. PLAYLIST: HENRY LAWES Sitting by the Streams Consort of Musicke/Anthony Rooley Hyperion CDA 66135 Track 17 JOHN MILTON (father) Fair Oriana in the morn I Fagiolini Chandos CHAN 0682 Track 23 HENRY LAWES Sweet Stay Awhile The Consort of Musicke/Anthony Rooley Hyperion CDA 66135 Track 3 MAZZOCCHI La Catena d’Adone Les Arts Florissant/William Christie Virgin Classics 3381542 Track 2 HENRY LAWES From the heav’ns now I fly; Robin Blaze (countertenor)/Elizabeth Kenny (theorbo) Hyperion CDA 67589 Track 9 Segue to: WILLIAM LAWES Country Dance; Elizabeth Kenny (lute) Hyperion CDA 67589 Track 12 Segue to: HENRY LAWES Sweet Echo… Rebecca Outram (soprano)/Elizabeth Kenny (theorbo) Hyperion CDA 67589 Track 11 THOMAS ARNE By the Rushy-fringed bank/ Brightest Lady Emma Kirby (soprano)/Academy of Ancient Music/Christopher Hogwood Decca 470 372-2 Track 13 (CD2/2) THOMAS ARNE Fame’s an Echo/ Not on Beds of Fading Flowers Julianne Baird (soprano)/Colin Tilney (harpsichord)/Alison Mackay (viola da gamba) Dorian DOR 90105 Tracks 7, 8 HANDEL Comus Patrizia Kwella (soprano)/Margaret Cable (mezzo)/David Thomas (bass)/Academy of Ancient Music/Christopher Hogwood OISEAU LYRE 421 479-2 Tracks 20-25 HENRY LAWES Sitting by the Streams Consort of Musicke/Anthony Rooley Hyperion CDA 66135 Track 17