This volume as its title suggests contains literally hundreds of examples from the rich mine of folkloric & secular songs and melodies from the 16th, 17th & 18th centuries 'adapted to modern use'. The words were revised, adapted, or re-written by the Rev. J Powell Metcalfe. The music was selected and revised with an Introductory Essay on the Rise and Progress of the Round, Catch and Canon, along with Biographical Notices of the Composers by Edward F Rimbault.