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May. 1st, 2007 12:22 pmThis sweet and merry month of May,
While Nature wantons in her prime,
And birds do sing, and beasts do play
For pleasure of the joyful time,
I choose the first for holiday,
And greet Eliza with a rhyme:
O beauteous Queen of second Troy,
Take well in worth a simple toy.
- William Bird
Very possibly my favorite Madrigal, at least in English, and one of the few written for 6 parts (SSATTB). You'll have to imagine all the counterpoint parts flying around the lyrics above, although I have to say there are few pleasures available to the chamber vocalist that can compare to singing about beasts, which do play. For pleasure.
There is a lovely recording by the King's Singers on All At Once Well Met: English Madrigals, for those so inclined.
While Nature wantons in her prime,
And birds do sing, and beasts do play
For pleasure of the joyful time,
I choose the first for holiday,
And greet Eliza with a rhyme:
O beauteous Queen of second Troy,
Take well in worth a simple toy.
- William Bird
Very possibly my favorite Madrigal, at least in English, and one of the few written for 6 parts (SSATTB). You'll have to imagine all the counterpoint parts flying around the lyrics above, although I have to say there are few pleasures available to the chamber vocalist that can compare to singing about beasts, which do play. For pleasure.
There is a lovely recording by the King's Singers on All At Once Well Met: English Madrigals, for those so inclined.
