Composer

:

Jacques Arcadelt

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1554

Publication Date

:

1554

Average_duration

:

2:59

"La pastorella mia" is a madrigal composed by Jacques Arcadelt, a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance era. The piece was composed in the mid-16th century and was first published in 1539 in a collection of madrigals titled "Il primo libro di madrigali a quattro voci" (The First Book of Madrigals for Four Voices). The madrigal is written for four voices, with the text in Italian. It is a pastoral love song, with the speaker addressing his beloved shepherdess. The piece is in a simple, strophic form, with each stanza of the text set to the same music. The melody is light and graceful, with a lilting rhythm that evokes the pastoral setting of the text. The piece is characterized by its use of word painting, a technique in which the music reflects the meaning of the text. For example, the opening phrase of the madrigal, "La pastorella mia," is set to a rising melody that suggests the speaker's affection for his shepherdess. The text also includes references to the natural world, such as "the green grass" and "the clear stream," which are reflected in the music through the use of flowing melodic lines and gentle harmonies. "La pastorella mia" is a representative example of the Italian madrigal, a popular form of secular vocal music in the Renaissance era. The madrigal was typically written for four or five voices and set to a poem in Italian. The form was characterized by its use of word painting, as well as its expressive harmonies and use of dissonance. Overall, "La pastorella mia" is a charming and graceful example of the Italian madrigal, with its light melody and evocative text painting. The piece has remained popular in the centuries since its composition and is still frequently performed and recorded today.

More....