Date:c. 1538 Description:“Il Bianco e Dolce Cigno” is one of the most famous madrigals by the Flemish composer Jacques Arcadelt. This early Italian madrigal is known for its rich harmonies and expressive text setting, typical of the early madrigal style. The title translates as “The White and Sweet Swan,” and …
Date:c. 1560 Description:“If Ye Love Me” is a beautiful English anthem by Thomas Tallis, often performed in church settings. It is a simple yet elegant motet, written for four voices, and is known for its smooth, flowing melodies and serene harmonies. The text is drawn from the Bible, specifically from …
Date:1609 Description:“I Lay with an Old Man” is a humorous English song by Thomas Ravenscroft, included in his Deuteromelia (1609). This piece falls under the category of a “catch,” a type of English round or canonic song that was popular in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The song …
Date:Early 16th century (circa 1500s) Description:“Hoyda, Hoyda, Jolly Rutterkin” is a spirited English Renaissance song, attributed to William Cornysh. The piece exemplifies the jovial and rhythmic character of early 16th-century English music, often associated with courtly entertainments and masques. Discussion:The song’s repetitive “Hoyda” refrain and catchy melody suggest it was …
Date:1597 Description:Gush Forth My Tears is a pavan composed by William Holborne and published in The Cittharn Schoole, a collection of songs and instrumental works. It shares thematic and musical similarities with Dowland’s Flow, My Tears, reflecting the intense emotional expression typical of late Elizabethan melancholy music. Discussion:Holborne’s piece is …
Date:1609 Description:“Glad am I” is a three-part round composed by Thomas Ravenscroft. It appears as the 11th piece in his collection Deuteromelia, published in 1609. The piece reflects the social and musical culture of the English Renaissance, where singing in rounds was a popular form of entertainment. Discussion:This round exemplifies …
Date:1609 (published in The First Set of Madrigals) Description:“Fyre, Fyre!” is a lively and dramatic English madrigal by Thomas Morley, a leading composer of the Elizabethan era. Known for its rapid tempo and vivid word painting, the piece captures the chaos and desperation of a lover burning with passion. It’s …
Date:Published in 1600 (from Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares) Description:“Flow, My Tears” is a lute song (or ayre) by John Dowland, one of the most prominent composers of the English Renaissance. Originally composed as an instrumental piece titled “Lachrimae pavane”, it later became one of Dowland’s most famous songs when lyrics …
Date:Early 15th century (c. 1400–1450) Description:“Eya Martyr Stephane” is a macaronic English-Latin carol honouring Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr. It was likely sung on St. Stephen’s Day (December 26), within the context of the medieval Christmas season. The carol is notable for its alternation between English and Latin, a …
Date:c. 1370 (Late 14th century) Description:“Ecco la primavera” (“Here Comes the Spring”) is a well-known ballata by the Italian composer Giovanni da Firenze Landini. It celebrates the arrival of spring, with its characteristic lively and joyful mood, which is a common theme in medieval music. The ballata is in a …