Composer

:

Thomas Weelkes

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Publication Date

:

1967

Average_duration

:

7:45

Thomas Weelkes was an English composer who lived from 1576 to 1623. He was known for his madrigals, anthems, and other vocal works. One of his most famous works is "The Cries of London," a collection of six pieces that were first published in 1600. "The Cries of London" is a set of madrigals that depict the street vendors and their cries in London during the Elizabethan era. The six movements are titled "The Cries of London," "Newark Cries," "Walsingham Cries," "York Cries," "Bristol Cries," and "Oxford Cries." Each movement features a different set of vendors and their cries, with Weelkes using the voices to create a lively and colorful soundscape. The first movement, "The Cries of London," sets the scene with a chorus of voices calling out the various wares for sale. The second movement, "Newark Cries," features the cries of vendors from the town of Newark, including a baker, a brewer, and a shoemaker. The third movement, "Walsingham Cries," depicts the vendors from the town of Walsingham, including a fishmonger, a fruit seller, and a milkmaid. The fourth movement, "York Cries," features the vendors from the city of York, including a tinker, a peddler, and a chimney sweep. The fifth movement, "Bristol Cries," depicts the vendors from the city of Bristol, including a knife grinder, a basket maker, and a bellman. The final movement, "Oxford Cries," features the vendors from the city of Oxford, including a ballad singer, a flower seller, and a water carrier. The music of "The Cries of London" is lively and colorful, with Weelkes using the voices to create a sense of bustling activity. The vocal lines are often imitative, with one voice echoing another, and the harmonies are rich and complex. Weelkes also uses word painting to depict the various sounds of the vendors' cries, such as the sharp staccato of the knife grinder's wheel or the lilting melody of the ballad singer's song. "The Cries of London" was first published in 1600 and was likely performed by a small group of singers accompanied by a lute or other plucked instrument. The work was popular in its time and has remained a favorite of choral groups and early music enthusiasts to this day.

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