The Chester Books of Madrigals offer an exciting collection of secular European madrigals, partsongs and rounds from the 16th and early 17th centuries, edited from early sources by Anthony G. Petti, who contributes copious historical notes to each volume. The majority of the settings are for SATB and simplified keyboard reductions. Texts are in the original languages, with an English translation (for non-English texts) provided at the head of each piece.