Books of songs. Masque

This publication submits to the court of readers the works of Thomas Campion (1567-1620), a wonderful English poet and composer. He composed five Books of Airs), different poems and several masks (small plays with music and dancing), playing an important role in the history of England literature. Campion over the years of life is in the middle between the end of the Tudor Age and the beginning of the century of Stuarts. He was a contemporary of Sydney, Spencer and Shakespeare, but also Ben Johnson, John Donna and Robert Herrick. His arias (Aires), on which his reputation is based, include one of the best songs written in English. Its masks are attractive, their mythological and allegorical plots, beautiful songs and entertaining dialogs create several ceremonial, but pleasant spectacles for hearing, accompanied by dancing. Thomas Eliot, the largest Anglo-American poet and critic, respect Campion"s talent, noted that after Shakespeare, he was the most skillful master of the rhymeed lyrics of his time. Campion texts in this book are accompanied by an article about his life and creativity and detailed comments