This volume brings together five previously unpublished realisations of vocal music by Purcell. Britten prepared each piece with specific singers in mind. The realisation of the figured bass is highly personal in style and reflects Britten's afiinity with the music of Purcell. Britten has applied to these realisations 'something of the mixture of clarity, tenderness and strangeness which shines out in all Purcell's music.' (a remark made by Britten and Pears in the preface to their first volumes of purcell arrangements)

**ABRSM selected piece (Singing from 2009): The Knotting Song 'Hears not my Phyllis' (Purcell)