Composer

:

John Wilbye

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Madrigal

Compose Date

:

1598

Average_duration

:

2:52

John Wilbye was an English composer of the Renaissance period, known for his madrigals. One of his most famous works is "Cruell, Behold My Heavie Ending," which was composed in the late 16th century. The piece is a five-part madrigal, with the text taken from a poem by Sir Philip Sidney. It was likely composed around 1590, and was first published in Wilbye's second book of madrigals in 1609. The madrigal is in a minor key, and has a melancholy and mournful character. The text describes the pain of unrequited love, and the music reflects this with its slow and mournful melody. The piece is also notable for its use of chromaticism, which was a relatively new technique at the time. The madrigal is divided into three sections, each with its own distinct character. The first section is slow and mournful, with the voices singing in a homophonic texture. The second section is more lively, with the voices imitating each other in a polyphonic texture. The final section returns to the mournful character of the opening, with the voices singing in a homophonic texture once again. Overall, "Cruell, Behold My Heavie Ending" is a beautiful and poignant example of Renaissance madrigal music. Its use of chromaticism and its expressive text make it a standout work in Wilbye's oeuvre, and in the history of English madrigal music.

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