Composer

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Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

Genre

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Keyboard

Style

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Variations

Average_duration

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3:25

'Vluchtige nimph' is a vocal composition by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, a Dutch composer and organist of the late Renaissance period. The piece was composed in the early 17th century and premiered in Amsterdam, where Sweelinck served as the organist of the Oude Kerk. 'Vluchtige nimph' is a secular vocal work, written for four voices (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) and accompanied by a basso continuo. The piece is structured in three movements, each with its own distinct character and mood. The first movement is marked "Allegro" and features a lively, dance-like rhythm. The vocal lines are light and playful, with frequent use of melismatic passages and ornamentation. The text of the first movement describes a fleeting nymph who eludes the speaker's grasp, and the music captures the sense of playful pursuit and elusive beauty. The second movement is marked "Adagio" and is more introspective in character. The vocal lines are more sustained and expressive, with a greater emphasis on the text. The text of the second movement describes the speaker's longing for the nymph, and the music conveys a sense of yearning and melancholy. The final movement is marked "Allegro" and returns to the lively, dance-like character of the first movement. The vocal lines are more complex and virtuosic, with frequent use of imitative counterpoint and intricate rhythmic patterns. The text of the final movement describes the speaker's frustration with the nymph's elusiveness, and the music captures the sense of playful frustration and energetic pursuit. Overall, 'Vluchtige nimph' is a charming and expressive vocal work that showcases Sweelinck's skill as a composer of both sacred and secular music. The piece is notable for its lively rhythms, expressive vocal lines, and intricate counterpoint, and remains a popular work in the repertoire of early music performers today.

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