Gibbons Nunc dimittis or YouTube SATB
The Nunc Dimittis, sometimes called the Song of Simeon, is sung at the liturgical night office of many Western denominations, including Evensong and Compline. Simeon was a devout Jew who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. Gibbons' wonderful Short Service is largely homophonic and syllabic (one syllable per note), although at the Gloria a canon between soprano and alto is set up, giving a masterly impression of a greater complexity. The work is one of quiet profundity, giving rise to a feeling of something greater than the individual self.
Morley Hark Alleluia or YouTube SAATBB
This lovely quasi-sacred piece is an elegy written on the death of Henry Noel, one of Queen Elizabeth I's courtiers and a likely notable patron of music. It has an elegant and noble spirit and shows the composer at his finest.
Farmer Fair nymphs, I heard one telling or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATBB
Another celebration of the Virgin Queen and her fair realm, from The Triumphs of Oriana, with plenty of lively imitation between the two soprano parts. Note the conversation between the lower three parts at the start, mellifluous quavers on 'beautify', running fauns, and a stillness around 'amazed'. Farmer was born around 1570 and was for a while organist of Christ Church and St Patrick's cathedrals in Dublin. Other than this contribution to Morley's famous collection, Farmer composed just one collection of four-part madrigals.
Wilbye Lady when I behold or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SATB
Although Wilbye's output is contained in only two collections, dated 1598 and 1609 respectively, its quality places him among the leading English madrigal composers. Lady, when I behold is set to a light, amorous text based on the simplest of conceits. Its delightfully airy and carefree music demonstrates a textural subtlety and lightness of scoring in the best tradition of the pastoral madrigal.
Bennett Come shepherds follow me or YouTube SATB
John Bennet (sometimes spelled 'Benet') is best known for the much-loved Oriana madrigal All creatures now, with his main compositional inspiration coming from Morley. There are ample instances in this delightful piece for text-painting: we are immediately urged in rising scales to 'run up apace the mountain', and the parts chase each other in so doing before gently settling to see the view. There, 'love laid to rest' is observed, enough to encourage us to 'haste hence', A with T and S with B, before a short triple-time dance.
Weelkes Hark, all ye lovely saints or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATB
More from the cathedral establishment's most celebrated disorderly member, Thomas Weelkes, the organist at Chichester where, despite several attempts to remove him from his position (drunkenness, foul language, urinating on the Dean from the organ loft etc), he was to remain until his death. In this ironic and charming ballet, the virgin goddess Diana seems to have instructed Cupid to dispose of his bow and arrow, which has been the source of much mourning. The teasing music is mock-serious, with major-minor changes on 'weep' and 'mourn'. The final fa las are reminiscent of a guitar.
Gibbons Nunc dimittis or YouTube SATB
The Nunc Dimittis, sometimes called the Song of Simeon, is sung at the liturgical night office of many Western denominations, including Evensong and Compline. Simeon was a devout Jew who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. Gibbons' wonderful Short Service is largely homophonic and syllabic (one syllable per note), although at the Gloria a canon between soprano and alto is set up, giving a masterly impression of a greater complexity. The work is one of quiet profundity, giving rise to a feeling of something greater than the individual self.
Morley Hark Alleluia or YouTube SAATBB
This lovely quasi-sacred piece is an elegy written on the death of Henry Noel, one of Queen Elizabeth I's courtiers and a likely notable patron of music. It has an elegant and noble spirit and shows the composer at his finest.
Farmer Fair nymphs, I heard one telling or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATBB
Another celebration of the Virgin Queen and her fair realm, from The Triumphs of Oriana, with plenty of lively imitation between the two soprano parts. Note the conversation between the lower three parts at the start, mellifluous quavers on 'beautify', running fauns, and a stillness around 'amazed'. Farmer was born around 1570 and was for a while organist of Christ Church and St Patrick's cathedrals in Dublin. Other than this contribution to Morley's famous collection, Farmer composed just one collection of four-part madrigals.
Wilbye Lady when I behold or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SATB
Although Wilbye's output is contained in only two collections, dated 1598 and 1609 respectively, its quality places him among the leading English madrigal composers. Lady, when I behold is set to a light, amorous text based on the simplest of conceits. Its delightfully airy and carefree music demonstrates a textural subtlety and lightness of scoring in the best tradition of the pastoral madrigal.
Bennett Come shepherds follow me or YouTube SATB
John Bennet (sometimes spelled 'Benet') is best known for the much-loved Oriana madrigal All creatures now, with his main compositional inspiration coming from Morley. There are ample instances in this delightful piece for text-painting: we are immediately urged in rising scales to 'run up apace the mountain', and the parts chase each other in so doing before gently settling to see the view. There, 'love laid to rest' is observed, enough to encourage us to 'haste hence', A with T and S with B, before a short triple-time dance.
Weelkes Hark, all ye lovely saints or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATB
More from the cathedral establishment's most celebrated disorderly member, Thomas Weelkes, the organist at Chichester where, despite several attempts to remove him from his position (drunkenness, foul language, urinating on the Dean from the organ loft etc), he was to remain until his death. In this ironic and charming ballet, the virgin goddess Diana seems to have instructed Cupid to dispose of his bow and arrow, which has been the source of much mourning. The teasing music is mock-serious, with major-minor changes on 'weep' and 'mourn'. The final fa las are reminiscent of a guitar.
Gibbons Nunc dimittis or YouTube SATB
The Nunc Dimittis, sometimes called the Song of Simeon, is sung at the liturgical night office of many Western denominations, including Evensong and Compline. Simeon was a devout Jew who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. Gibbons' wonderful Short Service is largely homophonic and syllabic (one syllable per note), although at the Gloria a canon between soprano and alto is set up, giving a masterly impression of a greater complexity. The work is one of quiet profundity, giving rise to a feeling of something greater than the individual self.
Morley Hark Alleluia or YouTube SAATBB
This lovely quasi-sacred piece is an elegy written on the death of Henry Noel, one of Queen Elizabeth I's courtiers and a likely notable patron of music. It has an elegant and noble spirit and shows the composer at his finest.
Farmer Fair nymphs, I heard one telling or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATBB
Another celebration of the Virgin Queen and her fair realm, from The Triumphs of Oriana, with plenty of lively imitation between the two soprano parts. Note the conversation between the lower three parts at the start, mellifluous quavers on 'beautify', running fauns, and a stillness around 'amazed'. Farmer was born around 1570 and was for a while organist of Christ Church and St Patrick's cathedrals in Dublin. Other than this contribution to Morley's famous collection, Farmer composed just one collection of four-part madrigals.
Wilbye Lady when I behold or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SATB
Although Wilbye's output is contained in only two collections, dated 1598 and 1609 respectively, its quality places him among the leading English madrigal composers. Lady, when I behold is set to a light, amorous text based on the simplest of conceits. Its delightfully airy and carefree music demonstrates a textural subtlety and lightness of scoring in the best tradition of the pastoral madrigal.
Bennett Come shepherds follow me or YouTube SATB
John Bennet (sometimes spelled 'Benet') is best known for the much-loved Oriana madrigal All creatures now, with his main compositional inspiration coming from Morley. There are ample instances in this delightful piece for text-painting: we are immediately urged in rising scales to 'run up apace the mountain', and the parts chase each other in so doing before gently settling to see the view. There, 'love laid to rest' is observed, enough to encourage us to 'haste hence', A with T and S with B, before a short triple-time dance.
Weelkes Hark, all ye lovely saints or YouTube Also in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals SSATB
More from the cathedral establishment's most celebrated disorderly member, Thomas Weelkes, the organist at Chichester where, despite several attempts to remove him from his position (drunkenness, foul language, urinating on the Dean from the organ loft etc), he was to remain until his death. In this ironic and charming ballet, the virgin goddess Diana seems to have instructed Cupid to dispose of his bow and arrow, which has been the source of much mourning. The teasing music is mock-serious, with major-minor changes on 'weep' and 'mourn'. The final fa las are reminiscent of a guitar.
