This programme explores Italian keyboard music of the sixteenth century with works by Girolamo Diruta, Claudio Merulo, Andrea and Giovanni Gabreli, Gioseffo Guami, and Antonio Mortaro. As Richard Lester explains in his extended liner note, his own study of contemporary performance treatise, particularly that of Diruta, for correct period fingering, ornamentation and registration for these works, informs his performances of these pieces and expresses their unique character.

A 90-page score has also been compiled and edited by Richard Lester, NMP1015, which includes this CD and a DVD video where Richard demonstrates the techniques for accurate and correct performance of these works.