ate:
Early 17th century
Description:
Your Shinning Eyes is a light, lyrical English madrigal or part-song attributed to Thomas Belston. The text is a typical expression of Renaissance courtly admiration, focused on the beloved’s captivating gaze and the pain of longing.
Discussion:
Though not as widely known as his contemporaries, Thomas Belston contributed several charming secular pieces to the English madrigal tradition. Your Shinning Eyes is elegant and tuneful, making use of gentle imitation and harmonious cadences. The emotional tone is wistful but graceful, with a subtle interplay between text and music.
Composer:
Thomas Belston
Arranged by:
Adapted for SATB from original manuscript sources
Sheet Music:
Available in early English song collections and modern part-song anthologies
The arrangement we use is available here as a pdf, mus, or musescore file.
Parts:
SATB
Type:
English madrigal / part-song
Language:
English
Ranges:
- Soprano: C4–F5
- Alto: E4–C5
- Tenor: C4–A4
- Bass: G3–D4
Advice for beginners:
This piece is well-suited for confident beginner or intermediate ensembles. The text is straightforward and the harmonies are clear, but singers should take care with tuning and dynamic shading to fully express the emotional nuance.
Sound Files:
Here are some sound files for reference. All parts, soprano, alto, tenor