Please note that music files that are linked to are not necessarily the same edition we will be using on the day and therefore there may be some slight differences.
Gibbons O Lord, increase my faith or YouTube SATB
This short piece has been attributed to Gibbons but is now thought to be the work of Henry Loosemore. It is a poignant and personal plea for God's presence in our lives.
Morley Leave, alas, this tormenting or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SATTB (Didn't actually sing this)
This fine piece is from his 'Balletts to Five Voices' of 1595 and is based on a canzonet, Non mi date tormento by Ferretti. The relatively late entry of the soprano line enables the establishment of a rich sonority at the outset. Note some of the chromaticisms around words such as 'strange', 'alas' and 'tormenting'.
Vautor Sweet Suffolk Owl or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATB
Sweet Suffolk Owl, from the composer's one published book of madrigals, Songs of Divers Airs and Natures (1619), is Vautor's best-known piece. It's a fun sing, with imitative 'te whit te whoo', some great word-painting on rolling quavers, and sudden changes of texture. Towards the end the duple meter is interrupted by a section in 3 time - a 'dirge for dying souls' – which is a possible quote from William Byrd's keyboard piece The Bells. 'Dight' means 'dressed'.
Wilbye Flora gave me fairest flowers or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATB
John Wilbye (c.1574–1638) spent most of his career at Hengrave Hall in Suffolk, home of the noble Kytson family, initially in service as a household musician, but later as an honoured and prosperous retainer with land and property of his own. Almost his entire known output consists of two books of madrigals, published in 1597 and 1609. He is ranked as one of the greatest English madrigalists, able to absorb Italian influences within the framework of a subtle and introspective personal style.
Flora gave me fairest flowers is a brief and elegant masterpiece of understatement, with a transparent underlying eroticism: a first-person narrator bestows flowers upon a lady love, and a tryst in a meadow follows. It consists of three two-line couplets, with the music reflecting each nuance of the charming text.
Carlton Calm was the air or YouTube SSATB
This lovely piece is from Morley's famous compilation The Triumphs of Oriana. Richard Carlton was vicar of St Stephen's Norwich sometime in the 1570s and later became Master of the Choristers at the cathedral. Carlton's musical style is similar to the pre-madrigalian English tradition exemplified by Byrd. There is some lovely word-painting here, especially depicting the dancing nymphs and satyrs. Look out also for 'over the downs' and the ascent to heaven that follows it, as well as 'rejoicing' with 'high-strained voice' and a four-bar depiction of 'long' in the basses.
Tomkins Adieu ye city-prisoning towers or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATB
Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656) was a pupil of William Byrd. He became organist at Worcester Cathedral in 1596 before moving to the Chapel Royal. Active mainly in church music, his only book of madrigals was published in 1622. Adieu, ye city-prisoning towers is a 5-part comparison of town and country life. It demonstrates a typical florid spring, with some wonderful word-painting of singing and chirping birds.
Please note that music files that are linked to are not necessarily the same edition we will be using on the day and therefore there may be some slight differences.
Gibbons O Lord, increase my faith or YouTube SATB
This short piece has been attributed to Gibbons but is now thought to be the work of Henry Loosemore. It is a poignant and personal plea for God's presence in our lives.
Morley Leave, alas, this tormenting or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SATTB (Didn't actually sing this)
This fine piece is from his 'Balletts to Five Voices' of 1595 and is based on a canzonet, Non mi date tormento by Ferretti. The relatively late entry of the soprano line enables the establishment of a rich sonority at the outset. Note some of the chromaticisms around words such as 'strange', 'alas' and 'tormenting'.
Vautor Sweet Suffolk Owl or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATB
Sweet Suffolk Owl, from the composer's one published book of madrigals, Songs of Divers Airs and Natures (1619), is Vautor's best-known piece. It's a fun sing, with imitative 'te whit te whoo', some great word-painting on rolling quavers, and sudden changes of texture. Towards the end the duple meter is interrupted by a section in 3 time - a 'dirge for dying souls' – which is a possible quote from William Byrd's keyboard piece The Bells. 'Dight' means 'dressed'.
Wilbye Flora gave me fairest flowers or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATB
John Wilbye (c.1574–1638) spent most of his career at Hengrave Hall in Suffolk, home of the noble Kytson family, initially in service as a household musician, but later as an honoured and prosperous retainer with land and property of his own. Almost his entire known output consists of two books of madrigals, published in 1597 and 1609. He is ranked as one of the greatest English madrigalists, able to absorb Italian influences within the framework of a subtle and introspective personal style.
Flora gave me fairest flowers is a brief and elegant masterpiece of understatement, with a transparent underlying eroticism: a first-person narrator bestows flowers upon a lady love, and a tryst in a meadow follows. It consists of three two-line couplets, with the music reflecting each nuance of the charming text.
Carlton Calm was the air or YouTube SSATB
This lovely piece is from Morley's famous compilation The Triumphs of Oriana. Richard Carlton was vicar of St Stephen's Norwich sometime in the 1570s and later became Master of the Choristers at the cathedral. Carlton's musical style is similar to the pre-madrigalian English tradition exemplified by Byrd. There is some lovely word-painting here, especially depicting the dancing nymphs and satyrs. Look out also for 'over the downs' and the ascent to heaven that follows it, as well as 'rejoicing' with 'high-strained voice' and a four-bar depiction of 'long' in the basses.
Tomkins Adieu ye city-prisoning towers or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATB
Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656) was a pupil of William Byrd. He became organist at Worcester Cathedral in 1596 before moving to the Chapel Royal. Active mainly in church music, his only book of madrigals was published in 1622. Adieu, ye city-prisoning towers is a 5-part comparison of town and country life. It demonstrates a typical florid spring, with some wonderful word-painting of singing and chirping birds.
Please note that music files that are linked to are not necessarily the same edition we will be using on the day and therefore there may be some slight differences.
Gibbons O Lord, increase my faith or YouTube SATB
This short piece has been attributed to Gibbons but is now thought to be the work of Henry Loosemore. It is a poignant and personal plea for God's presence in our lives.
Morley Leave, alas, this tormenting or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SATTB (Didn't actually sing this)
This fine piece is from his 'Balletts to Five Voices' of 1595 and is based on a canzonet, Non mi date tormento by Ferretti. The relatively late entry of the soprano line enables the establishment of a rich sonority at the outset. Note some of the chromaticisms around words such as 'strange', 'alas' and 'tormenting'.
Vautor Sweet Suffolk Owl or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATB
Sweet Suffolk Owl, from the composer's one published book of madrigals, Songs of Divers Airs and Natures (1619), is Vautor's best-known piece. It's a fun sing, with imitative 'te whit te whoo', some great word-painting on rolling quavers, and sudden changes of texture. Towards the end the duple meter is interrupted by a section in 3 time - a 'dirge for dying souls' – which is a possible quote from William Byrd's keyboard piece The Bells. 'Dight' means 'dressed'.
Wilbye Flora gave me fairest flowers or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATB
John Wilbye (c.1574–1638) spent most of his career at Hengrave Hall in Suffolk, home of the noble Kytson family, initially in service as a household musician, but later as an honoured and prosperous retainer with land and property of his own. Almost his entire known output consists of two books of madrigals, published in 1597 and 1609. He is ranked as one of the greatest English madrigalists, able to absorb Italian influences within the framework of a subtle and introspective personal style.
Flora gave me fairest flowers is a brief and elegant masterpiece of understatement, with a transparent underlying eroticism: a first-person narrator bestows flowers upon a lady love, and a tryst in a meadow follows. It consists of three two-line couplets, with the music reflecting each nuance of the charming text.
Carlton Calm was the air or YouTube SSATB
This lovely piece is from Morley's famous compilation The Triumphs of Oriana. Richard Carlton was vicar of St Stephen's Norwich sometime in the 1570s and later became Master of the Choristers at the cathedral. Carlton's musical style is similar to the pre-madrigalian English tradition exemplified by Byrd. There is some lovely word-painting here, especially depicting the dancing nymphs and satyrs. Look out also for 'over the downs' and the ascent to heaven that follows it, as well as 'rejoicing' with 'high-strained voice' and a four-bar depiction of 'long' in the basses.
Tomkins Adieu ye city-prisoning towers or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATB
Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656) was a pupil of William Byrd. He became organist at Worcester Cathedral in 1596 before moving to the Chapel Royal. Active mainly in church music, his only book of madrigals was published in 1622. Adieu, ye city-prisoning towers is a 5-part comparison of town and country life. It demonstrates a typical florid spring, with some wonderful word-painting of singing and chirping birds.
