Please note that music files that are linked to are not necessarily the same edition we will be using on the night and therefore there may be some slight differences.
Thomas Morley O amica mea or YouTube link (we are singing only the first part, up to 2'51") SSATB
Morley (1557-1602) was a singer, composer and organist, a music publisher and one of the foremost members of the English Madrigal School. He became organist of St Paul’s Cathedral and was the most famous composer of secular music in Elizabethan England.
O amica mea is a somewhat-neglected, beautifully-sustained and sophisticated love song with an almost comical text from the Song of Songs: O my love, your hair is like a flock of goats, moving down mount Gilead. It was originally published at the end of Morley’s theoretical manual A Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practicall Musicke (1597) without any explanation as to why it is there – a lesson in how to write such powerful polyphony, perhaps?
John Bennet Weep, O mine eyes or YouTube link Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SATB
The poignant Weep, O mine eyes was written as a tribute to John Dowland, using part of Dowland’s celebrated Flow my tears.We first met it in March 2016 and it’s remained a favourite since.
Hilton Fair Oriana, beauty’s queen
or YouTube link SSATB
A welcome revisit of this new piece we first looked at last time. It’s from The Triumphs of Oriana, Thomas Morley’s 1601 anthology. It is an intricate and delightful short piece, with the usual pastoral references to fauns and shepherds and some lovely depiction of their dances.
East Quick, quick, away, dispatch
or YouTube link
Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATBarB
Michael East was choirmaster at Lichfield Cathedral until the Civil War. He published madrigals for three and five voices, including a contribution to The Triumphs of Oriana and the double-madrigal Quick, quick away and No haste but good. The first part, which we’ll look at this month, is all about getting married and bubbles with the excitement of the day. Maybe we’ll do the second part next time?
Gibbons Ah, dear heart
or YouTube link Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SATTB
Orlando Gibbons was one of the most versatile English composers of his time, writing a quantity of keyboard works, around 30 fantasias for viols, many popular verse anthems, and a number of madrigals. He was appointed a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal by King James I (1566-1625), and in 1625 he became the Chapel Royal’s senior organist, with Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656) as his junior. He also held positions as keyboard player in the privy chamber of the court of Prince Charles (later King Charles I, 1600-1649), and as organist at Westminster Abbey. The exquisite Ah, dear heart is a contemplative piece, with long lines and plangent part-writing.
Morley What saith my dainty darling
or YouTube link SSATB
Starting and ending this meeting with the great Thomas Morley, here is the composer in his more familiar secular guise. What saith my dainty darling is a short and delightful ballet, to the usual story of happy love.
Please note that music files that are linked to are not necessarily the same edition we will be using on the night and therefore there may be some slight differences.
Thomas Morley O amica mea or YouTube link (we are singing only the first part, up to 2'51") SSATB
Morley (1557-1602) was a singer, composer and organist, a music publisher and one of the foremost members of the English Madrigal School. He became organist of St Paul’s Cathedral and was the most famous composer of secular music in Elizabethan England.
O amica mea is a somewhat-neglected, beautifully-sustained and sophisticated love song with an almost comical text from the Song of Songs: O my love, your hair is like a flock of goats, moving down mount Gilead. It was originally published at the end of Morley’s theoretical manual A Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practicall Musicke (1597) without any explanation as to why it is there – a lesson in how to write such powerful polyphony, perhaps?
John Bennet Weep, O mine eyes or YouTube link Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SATB
The poignant Weep, O mine eyes was written as a tribute to John Dowland, using part of Dowland’s celebrated Flow my tears.We first met it in March 2016 and it’s remained a favourite since.
Hilton Fair Oriana, beauty’s queen
or YouTube link SSATB
A welcome revisit of this new piece we first looked at last time. It’s from The Triumphs of Oriana, Thomas Morley’s 1601 anthology. It is an intricate and delightful short piece, with the usual pastoral references to fauns and shepherds and some lovely depiction of their dances.
East Quick, quick, away, dispatch
or YouTube link
Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATBarB
Michael East was choirmaster at Lichfield Cathedral until the Civil War. He published madrigals for three and five voices, including a contribution to The Triumphs of Oriana and the double-madrigal Quick, quick away and No haste but good. The first part, which we’ll look at this month, is all about getting married and bubbles with the excitement of the day. Maybe we’ll do the second part next time?
Gibbons Ah, dear heart
or YouTube link Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SATTB
Orlando Gibbons was one of the most versatile English composers of his time, writing a quantity of keyboard works, around 30 fantasias for viols, many popular verse anthems, and a number of madrigals. He was appointed a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal by King James I (1566-1625), and in 1625 he became the Chapel Royal’s senior organist, with Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656) as his junior. He also held positions as keyboard player in the privy chamber of the court of Prince Charles (later King Charles I, 1600-1649), and as organist at Westminster Abbey. The exquisite Ah, dear heart is a contemplative piece, with long lines and plangent part-writing.
Morley What saith my dainty darling
or YouTube link SSATB
Starting and ending this meeting with the great Thomas Morley, here is the composer in his more familiar secular guise. What saith my dainty darling is a short and delightful ballet, to the usual story of happy love.
Please note that music files that are linked to are not necessarily the same edition we will be using on the night and therefore there may be some slight differences.
Thomas Morley O amica mea or YouTube link (we are singing only the first part, up to 2'51") SSATB
Morley (1557-1602) was a singer, composer and organist, a music publisher and one of the foremost members of the English Madrigal School. He became organist of St Paul’s Cathedral and was the most famous composer of secular music in Elizabethan England.
O amica mea is a somewhat-neglected, beautifully-sustained and sophisticated love song with an almost comical text from the Song of Songs: O my love, your hair is like a flock of goats, moving down mount Gilead. It was originally published at the end of Morley’s theoretical manual A Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practicall Musicke (1597) without any explanation as to why it is there – a lesson in how to write such powerful polyphony, perhaps?
John Bennet Weep, O mine eyes or YouTube link Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SATB
The poignant Weep, O mine eyes was written as a tribute to John Dowland, using part of Dowland’s celebrated Flow my tears.We first met it in March 2016 and it’s remained a favourite since.
Hilton Fair Oriana, beauty’s queen
or YouTube link SSATB
A welcome revisit of this new piece we first looked at last time. It’s from The Triumphs of Oriana, Thomas Morley’s 1601 anthology. It is an intricate and delightful short piece, with the usual pastoral references to fauns and shepherds and some lovely depiction of their dances.
East Quick, quick, away, dispatch
or YouTube link
Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATBarB
Michael East was choirmaster at Lichfield Cathedral until the Civil War. He published madrigals for three and five voices, including a contribution to The Triumphs of Oriana and the double-madrigal Quick, quick away and No haste but good. The first part, which we’ll look at this month, is all about getting married and bubbles with the excitement of the day. Maybe we’ll do the second part next time?
Gibbons Ah, dear heart
or YouTube link Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SATTB
Orlando Gibbons was one of the most versatile English composers of his time, writing a quantity of keyboard works, around 30 fantasias for viols, many popular verse anthems, and a number of madrigals. He was appointed a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal by King James I (1566-1625), and in 1625 he became the Chapel Royal’s senior organist, with Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656) as his junior. He also held positions as keyboard player in the privy chamber of the court of Prince Charles (later King Charles I, 1600-1649), and as organist at Westminster Abbey. The exquisite Ah, dear heart is a contemplative piece, with long lines and plangent part-writing.
Morley What saith my dainty darling
or YouTube link SSATB
Starting and ending this meeting with the great Thomas Morley, here is the composer in his more familiar secular guise. What saith my dainty darling is a short and delightful ballet, to the usual story of happy love.
