Parish Alvars spent the winter of 1843-1844 in Naples, and his impressions of the ambience and the typical sights and sounds of that vibrant Mediterranean city are reflected in the series of three pieces he composed there. The Serenade (op.83) and the brilliant Grand Study in imitation of the Mandoline (op.84) are well known and have figured in the Adlais catalogue for many years, whilst the genuinely amusing Souvenir of Naples – Il Papagallo (op.85) with its witty characterisation of a pet Neapolitan parrot has completely – and quite unjustifiably – disappeared from the repertoire, and is virtually unknown.

All three pieces were originally published in Italy, but the present engraving of this delightfully ‘different’ music is based on the nineteenth century London edition made by John Thomas, Harpist to Queen Victoria. It was completely re-set in 2007 for its Adlais edition.