Let us, kind Lesbia, give away, Z466

composer

Henry Purcell (1659-1695)

Choice Ayres and Songs V, 1684

author of text

Gaius Valerius Catullus (c84-c54BC)

translator of text

Anonymous

Recordings

Purcell: Secular solo songs, Vol. 3

The King's Consort

MP3 £5.60FLAC £5.60ALAC £5.60Buy by post £5.60 CDA66730 Download currently discounted

Purcell: The complete secular solo songs

The King's Consort

MP3 £14.99FLAC £14.99ALAC £14.99Buy by post £20.97 CDS44161/3 3CDs Boxed set (at a special price)

Details

Barbara Bonney (soprano), Michael George (bass), The King's Consort

Track 20 on CDA66730 [1'25]

Track 20 on CDS44161/3 CD3 [1'25] 3CDs Boxed set (at a special price)

English

Let us, kind Lesbia, give away, Z466

Let us, kind Lesbia, give away was an anonymous translation of Catullus’s ‘Epigram 5’ Viveam mea Lesbia. Purcell’s song was published in the fifth book of Choice Ayres and Songs in 1684. His setting of the devil-may-care (not to say rather risqué) text was suitably colourful: whilst there is the opportunity to indulge in ‘soft embraces all the day’, that chance should be seized, for death will put an end to such pleasures. In the triple-time duet the lovers prepare to put their theories into practice. If anyone should criticize, they will counter such censoriousness ‘with one more kiss’.

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Hyperion Records