Composer

:

Thomas Campion

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

2:36

Thomas Campion was an English composer, poet, and physician who lived from 1567 to 1620. He is known for his contributions to the development of English song, particularly the lute song, which was a popular form of music in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. One of his most famous works is "There is a garden in her face," a lute song that was first published in 1617. The song is a love poem that describes the beauty of a woman's face and compares it to a garden. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with the speaker declaring that "There is a garden in her face / Where roses and white lilies grow." The second stanza continues the garden metaphor, describing the woman's eyes as "two lovely buds" and her lips as "cherries." The third stanza shifts the focus to the woman's voice, which is described as "music" that "doth surpass / All earthly things that heaven can make." The song is composed in a simple, straightforward style that is typical of lute songs. It consists of a single melody line with a chordal accompaniment for the lute. The melody is relatively easy to sing, with a range of only a few notes, and the rhythm is regular and predictable. The song is in the key of G major and has a moderate tempo. "There is a garden in her face" was first published in Campion's collection of lute songs, "A Booke of Ayres," which was published in 1617. The collection contains 21 songs, all of which are written for voice and lute. The songs are divided into two sections, with the first section consisting of love songs and the second section consisting of songs on various other topics. The premiere of "There is a garden in her face" would have been in the early 17th century, most likely in a private setting such as a court or a wealthy patron's home. Lute songs were typically performed in intimate settings, with the singer accompanied by a lutenist. The songs were often performed as part of courtly entertainment, such as masques or private concerts. Overall, "There is a garden in her face" is a beautiful example of a lute song from the early 17th century. Its simple melody and straightforward lyrics make it accessible to modern audiences, and it remains a popular piece for singers and lutenists today.

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