Composer

:

Thomas Morley

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

before 1595

Publication Date

:

1595

Average_duration

:

3:00

"Leave now mine eyes lamenting" 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 Morley's collection of madrigals, "The Triumphs of Oriana," in 1601. The madrigal is written for five voices, with the text taken from a poem by Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. The poem is a lament for a lost love, and Morley's setting of the text captures the melancholic mood of the poem perfectly. The piece is in a minor key, which adds to the mournful atmosphere, and the use of dissonance and chromaticism creates a sense of tension and longing. The madrigal is divided into three sections, or movements. The first section is slow and mournful, with the voices singing in homophony, or together, for the most part. The second section is faster and more lively, with the voices singing in polyphony, or independently of each other. The third section returns to the slow, mournful mood of the first section, with the voices once again singing in homophony. One of the characteristics of Morley's madrigals is his use of word painting, or the musical depiction of the meaning of the text. In "Leave now mine eyes lamenting," Morley uses word painting to great effect, with the voices rising and falling to reflect the emotions of the text. For example, when the text speaks of tears falling like rain, the voices descend in a series of falling notes, creating a sense of sadness and despair. Overall, "Leave now mine eyes lamenting" is a beautiful and poignant example of the English madrigal, and a testament to Morley's skill as a composer. Its haunting melody and melancholic mood have made it a favorite of choral groups and audiences alike, and it remains a beloved piece of Renaissance music to this day.

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