The Triumphs of Oriana

Edited and published by Thomas Morley, this book of madrigals is made up of 25 songs by 23 different composers of the time. There is some debate over whether different composers might have interpreted the figure of Oriana to mean different people, but Morley’s ties to Essex’s rebellion meant that it was in his best interests to promote the collection as a straightforward paean to Queen Elizabeth I.