Composer

:

Thomas Morley

Genre

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

before 1595

Publication Date

:

1595

Average_duration

:

02:17

"O thou that are so cruel" is a madrigal composed by Thomas Morley, an English composer, organist, and theorist of the Renaissance era. The piece was composed in the late 16th century, around 1595, and was first published in his collection of madrigals, "The Triumphs of Oriana" in 1601. The madrigal is written for five voices, with the text taken from a poem by the Elizabethan poet, Thomas Watson. The poem is a lament of a lover who is rejected by his beloved, and the music reflects the melancholic and sorrowful mood of the text. The piece is divided into three sections, each with its own distinct character. The first section begins with a slow and mournful introduction, with the voices singing in homophonic texture. The second section is more lively and rhythmic, with the voices imitating each other in a polyphonic texture. The final section returns to the slow and mournful character of the opening, with the voices singing in homophonic texture once again. The piece is characterized by its use of dissonance and chromaticism, which were common features of the late Renaissance period. The dissonances are used to express the pain and anguish of the rejected lover, while the chromaticism adds a sense of tension and unease to the music. Overall, "O thou that are so cruel" is a beautiful and poignant example of English Renaissance music, showcasing Morley's skill as a composer and his ability to convey complex emotions through music.

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