Festive and joyful, contemplative and pensive, and with a strong nod toward nature, this is music for a Midsummer Night:

The list begins with the beautifully simple song Uccelino, which asks: "Little bird, beautiful little bird, how can you sing so sweetly?", followed by dance music and more reflective pieces, as the sun (almost) sets for only a short time in this 'eternal' season. (The dances include the medieval Estampie, the Bransle, a type of Renaissance dance popular in the early 16th century, the Saltarello, a dance originally from Italy and two Baroque dance movements, the Gigue and the Courante.) The Grand Duke throws a Baroque ball, and Purcell praises nature's voice. And you may even end up falling asleep to the songs of nightingales. The playlist is available on Spotify.

Uccelino (anon)

Sirinu

Angelo Michele Bartolotti: Prelude

La Palatine

Douce Dame Debonaire (trad.)

Joglaresa

Bransle de la Torche (trad.)

Lux Musicae London

Estampie Real (trad.)

Archaedium

Guillaume Dufay: Saltarello

Jordi Savall, La Capella Real De Catalunya

William Williams: In Imitation of Birds

Ensemble Sonority

Quant je suis mis au retour

Joglaresa

Giovanni Legrenzi: Ballo del Granduca

Academy of Ancient Music

Richard Jones: Chamber Airs Op 2, No 4, A minor Giga. Allegro

Rachel Podger and Brecon Baroque

Ca' the Yowes (trad.)

Flautadors

Henry Purcell: 'tis Nature's Voice

Elisabeth Kenny, Robin Blaze

John Jenkins: Fantasia Suite in A minor, No1, III

Rachel Podger and Brecon Baroque

Jacques Hotteterre: Pourquoi doux rossignol

Ensemble Sonorita