This is a book of 25 madrigals by 23 composers. Two madrigals were set by Thomas Morley himself.
It was published in 1601 and one piece, 'XXI. Fair Oriana, seeming to wink at folly,' was set by Robert Jones.
Three of the other madrigal composers were John Wilbye, Thomas Weelkes and John Milton (*father of the great poet) and in 1614 these madrigalists joined Robert Jones in contributing songs to Sir William Leighton's The Tears and Lamentations of a Sorrowful Soul.
Many have speculated that these madrigals were meant for Queen Elizabeth I. John Milsom, in the liner notes to the 'I Fagiolini' CD of the Triumphs Of Oriana, gives us the light of new research into the origins of these Oriana madrigals. Milsom gives evidence that argues against these madrigals being meant for Queen Elizabeth I, but the 'I Fagiolini' CD still boasts a portrait of the aging queen on its front cover.
Most fascinating is Milsom's suggestion that poet-dramatist John Lyly was behind this madrigal book. Bond in his biography of John Lyly has suggested (without much evidence) that John Lyly was the author of many of the anonymous texts set to music by Robert Jones. John Lyly was involved in child theatre troupes in the late 1590's and perhaps these are the same troupes that evolved into the troupe that we know Robert Jones was involved with in 1615. Thus there is some circumstantial evidence that links Robert Jones to John Lyly. Milsom's suggestion adds to that evidence and Robert Jones's involvement in The Triumphs Of Oriana madrigal book seems to also support John Lyly's involvement in the book.
All of the Madrigals in the book end with the lines (or lines close to) "Then sang the shepherds and Nymphs of Diana: Long Live Fair Oriana."
There are two recordings of all the songs of this book that I can list.
The Triumphs Of Oriana by Pro Cantione Antiqua
(1977), on Polydor International (stereo 437076-2). The Madrigal by Jones 'Fair Oriana, Seeming To Wink At Folly' is track 22 as this CD follows the order of the book.
Pro Cantione Antiqua are; James Bowman, Paul Eastwood, James Griffett, Ian Partridge, Brian Etheridge, David Thomas with Jennifer Smith, Leonie mitchell.
'Triumphs Of Oriana Compiled by Thomas Morley' - by I Fagiolini I Fagiolini is directed by Robert Hollingworth and the performers are David Miller (Lute), William Purefoy and nine others. The releace date was (March 26?), 2002
This CD does not follow the order of the book and they have added a couple of Galliards by Antony Holborne and other lute solos. The Madrigal by Jones 'Fair Oriana, Seeming To Wink At Folly' is track 13.
The Triumphs of Oriana - Publishing History
1601. The original book was printed by Thomas East in 1601 in London. "two editions of it appeared in 1601, and at least one more followed soon after" (**p. 11 - I Fagiolini CD)
1913 ‚ 1923. The madrigals were edited by Edmund H. Fellowes for Strainer & Bell and in each composer's 'madrigal volume' of The English Madrigalists Series, he inserted that composer's madrigal from The Triumphs Of Oriana. For example Robert Jones's Oriana madrigal is in his First Set of Madrigals The English Madrigalists Volume 35A of the Series. (0979 6) printed in London by Stainer & Bell.
1962. Edited by Edmund H. Fellowes and revised by Thurston Dart. The English Madrigalists, Volume 32. London: Stainer & Bell,
- P. T. Connolly
1. Hence Stars Too Dim Of Light - Michael East (c.1580 - 1648)
*"Michael East's "Hence Stars Too Dim Of Light" had to be left unnumbered, with an apologetic note by the printer that he had placed it "before the rest" rather than omit it"
FAIR ORIANA, SEEMING TO WINK AT FOLLY
Fair Oriana, Seeming To Wink At Folly,
XXI. Fair Oriana, Seeming To Wink At Folly - Notes, Comments and Recordings
It seems to me that Jones intended to be a Madrigalists after he finished his third book his U in 1605.
I don't profess to be an expert on Madrigals but given that E. H. Fellowes said, Jones "was scarcely in the second rank of English Madrigalists" and David Brown's negative comments in The New Grove Dictionary it is a rather big achievement for this Jones madrigal to share a CD called "Madrigal Masterpieces" with Monteverdi.
As well as this madrigal being on the two recordings of all the Madrigals of the 'Triumphs of Oriana' a recording of this song is on the CD;
Madrigal Masterpieces-Vol. 3 by Deller Consort
on the VANGUARD CLASSICS Label (Catalog #2544) recorded Oct 17, 2000?
Composer: Jacques Arcadelt, Guillaume Costeley, Carlo Gesualdo, Robert Jones, Luca Marenzio, Claudio Monteverdi, Pierre Passereau, Cipriano de Rore
Patrick Thomas Connolly - August, September 2002. ©
Lay softly down to sleeping.
But, hearing that the world was grown unholy,
Her rest was turned to weeping.
So waked, she sighed, and with crossed arms
Sat drinking tears for others harms.
Then ang the nymphs and shepherds of Diana:
Long Live Fair Oriana.
The Madrigal by Jones 'Fair Oriana, Seeming To Wink' is track 16. It is the only Robert Jones song on the CD.
** John Milsom, in his liner notes to 'The Triumphs Of Oriana Compiled by Thomas Morley' - by I Fagiolini. Directed by Robert Hollingworth - Chaconne digital, Chan 0682. Chaconne records LTD. Colchester Esses, England. Releaced in 2002.
Information on the CDs 'Madrigal Masterpieces-Vol. 3' and 'Triumphs Of Oriana by Fagiolini,I' CDNOW web site at cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver.
'Music and Letters' v.7-8 1927 "The Text Of The Song-Books Of Robert Jones - E. H. Fellowes"
Brown, David. "Jones, Robert. The New Grove Dictionary London Macmlllan, 1980. IX:703-04.