Prothimia suavissima sive sonatarum selectissimarum, a title that roughly translates to "A Desire for the Choicest Sonatas," is a fascinating collection of mid-seventeenth-century small-ensemble sonatas. The twenty-four sonatas are engagingly well crafted, often alternating strict fugal sections with strikingly quirky passages that meld the rich sonorities of late-Renaissance modal harmonies with the new and rapidly developing tonal palettes emanating from Italy during this period.The title of this collection is more than idle praise, or a mere marketing tool, for these sonatas are indeed the "choicest" of their day. They could easily be called the Greatest Hits of their time!