Towards the end of his life the composer, diplomat and bishop Agostino Steffani (1654-1728) was invited to send some examples of his work to the recently established Academy of Vocal (later "Ancient") Music in London. As well as dispatching existing pieces, he supplied two new ones - a madrigal and a motet. In a manuscript that reflects the Academys repertory the madrigal is preceded by the anonymous chamber duet La canzona che volete and the instruction "Segue Madrigale". The humorous text of t...