Giles Farnaby was a Cornishman who lived from c. 1560-1640. As well as Madrigals and Church Music he wrote a number of pieces for the Virginals. These three descriptive pieces are contained in a collection known as 'The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book'. Viscount Fitzwilliam donated a large collection of books, music and paintings to Cambridge University in 1816, hence this valuable collection bears his name. The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book is the manuscript repertoire of an early 17th century amateur virginal player. It is compiled by Francis Tregnian, himself an amateur player, during his confinement in Fleet prison c. 1619. These arrangements employ the contemporary technique of stating a section of music and then repeating it with embellishments. The third piece 'His Humour' should contain a strong distinction between the sad chromatic section and the livelier witty later sections.
