Rogero or Ruggiero is an Italian ground bass which was popular from at least the middle of the 16th century (and on into the 17th) as a basis for sets of variations and songs. There are several versions for solo lute in English manuscripts, of which two are presented here.
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The first of the lute books copied by Matthew Holmes in the 1590s is about to be published in facsimile by the Lute Society. Dd.2.11 is the largest of these manuscripts with around 300 pieces. Alongside well-known pieces by Dowland, Johnson, Ferrabosco and others there are many anonymous pieces, some very substantial and clearly the work of a serious composer.
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