Composer

:

William Byrd

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Madrigal

Average_duration

:

5:39

"Alack, when I look back" is a choral work composed by William Byrd, a prominent English composer of the Renaissance period. The piece was likely composed in the late 16th century, although the exact date is unknown. It was first published in 1588 in Byrd's collection of choral works entitled "Songs of Sundrie Natures." The piece is a four-part choral work, with the text taken from a poem by Sir Thomas Wyatt. The poem reflects on the transience of life and the inevitability of death, with the speaker lamenting the passing of time and the loss of youth and beauty. Byrd's setting of the text is characterized by its melancholic tone and expressive harmonies, which convey the sense of sadness and regret in the poem. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which reflects a different aspect of the poem's themes. The first movement begins with a mournful melody in the alto voice, which is then taken up by the other voices in turn. The harmonies are rich and complex, with dissonances and suspensions adding to the sense of melancholy. The second movement is more lively, with a faster tempo and a more rhythmic melody. However, the harmonies remain expressive and poignant, reflecting the bittersweet nature of the poem's themes. The final movement returns to the slower tempo and mournful melody of the first movement, with the voices blending together in a rich and complex texture. Overall, "Alack, when I look back" is a powerful and moving choral work that reflects the themes of transience and mortality that were common in Renaissance poetry. Byrd's setting of the text is characterized by its expressive harmonies and poignant melodies, which convey the sense of sadness and regret in the poem.

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