Composer

:

John Wilbye

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Madrigal

Compose Date

:

1598

Average_duration

:

1:19

"Thus Saith My Cloris Bright" is a madrigal composed by John Wilbye, an English composer of the Renaissance era. The piece was composed in the late 16th century and was first published in 1598 in Wilbye's collection of madrigals, "The First Set of English Madrigals." The madrigal is written for five voices, with the text taken from a poem by Sir Philip Sidney. The piece is in the key of G major and is in a lively triple meter. The piece is divided into three sections, with each section featuring a different text. The first section of the madrigal is characterized by its lively and rhythmic melody. The voices are often in close harmony, with the upper voices weaving in and out of each other. The text of this section describes the beauty of Cloris, the subject of the poem. The second section of the madrigal is slower and more contemplative. The voices are more spread out, with each voice singing its own melody. The text of this section describes the speaker's love for Cloris and his desire to be with her. The final section of the madrigal returns to the lively and rhythmic melody of the first section. The voices are once again in close harmony, with the upper voices weaving in and out of each other. The text of this section describes the speaker's joy at being with Cloris. Overall, "Thus Saith My Cloris Bright" is a lively and joyful madrigal that showcases Wilbye's skill at writing for multiple voices. The piece is a testament to the beauty of English madrigals and remains a popular piece in the choral repertoire to this day.

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