Composer

:

Orlando Gibbons

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Publication Date

:

1612

"I Waigh Not Fortune's Frowne" is a beautiful and melancholic piece of music composed by Orlando Gibbons, one of the most prominent English composers of the early 17th century. The piece was composed in the year 1612 and was first performed in the same year. It is a part of Gibbons' collection of madrigals and motets, which are considered to be some of the finest examples of English Renaissance music. "I Waigh Not Fortune's Frowne" is a four-part madrigal that is characterized by its haunting melody and melancholic lyrics. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which is marked by a change in tempo and mood. The first movement is slow and mournful, with the lyrics expressing the composer's resignation to the whims of fate. The second movement is more upbeat and lively, with the lyrics expressing the composer's determination to persevere in the face of adversity. The final movement is slow and contemplative, with the lyrics expressing the composer's acceptance of his fate and his hope for a better future. The piece is notable for its use of chromaticism, which was a relatively new technique in English music at the time. Gibbons uses chromaticism to create a sense of tension and unease, which is in keeping with the melancholic mood of the piece. The piece is also notable for its use of word painting, which is a technique in which the music reflects the meaning of the lyrics. For example, the music becomes more dissonant and tense when the lyrics describe the composer's struggles, and it becomes more harmonious and peaceful when the lyrics describe his acceptance of his fate. Overall, "I Waigh Not Fortune's Frowne" is a beautiful and poignant piece of music that reflects the struggles and triumphs of the human spirit. It is a testament to Gibbons' skill as a composer and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience in his music.

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