Maurice Greene, songs

The Chaplet, being a collection of Twelve English Songs, was published anonymously by John Walsh of Catherine Street, the Strand in 1738 though is now known to be the work of Maurice Greene. Greene held most of the important musical posts in England before his 40th birthday. He was appointed Organist of St Paul's Cathedral, Organist and Composer of the Chapel Royal, Doctor of Music at Cambridge University and Master of the King's Musick. Maurice Greene's life nowadays may be defined through the mighty task he embarked on in collecting all the written church music up to that time and through a colossal falling out with Handel, the man he spent the best part of his life in the shadow of. He is, nevertheless, still prominent in the Cathedrals of England today through anthems such as "Thou visitest the earth" and "Lord, let me know mine end". He was, however, just as involved in the secular music of London and so 'The Chaplet' contains the bawdy drinking song as well as the plaintive ballad. The only songs to have been recorded are 'Ye Purple Blooming Roses', 'Fair Sally' and 'Sweet Annie' and these may be heard on this site. The text to all of the songs is the work of Greene's sometime librettist, John Hoadly.