Eighteenth century theatrical music and operatic composer Thomas Arne is the creator of Rule Britannia but here is in less patriotic and more dramatic mood. The recitativo and air O Ravishing Delight appear to survive from Arne’s 1742 opera The Judgement of Paris at the moment that Paris is overcome at the sight of the three goddesses and begs Hermes to take him away. The initial bars of the aria express Paris’s emotion in a largo section which then gives way to jolly allegro before returning to the tragic largo briefly and ending allegro.

This series includes songs by composers who may be little known outside specialist circles but who have achieved something distinctive in this field. Many of these songs and some by well-known composers have long been out of print. Although several publishers now offer an authorized photocopy service the problem is often knowing of the existence of a song rather than of obtaining a copy of it. To keep costs to minimum use has in many cases been made of the original engraving (corrected where necessary) even where this may lead to a somewhat uneven result visually. The intention is to get these volumes into the hands of performers of all ages at an economic price.There is above all a simple missionary purpose: to enthuse encourage and (in the best sense) educate.