madrigal
5
9.9
- noun
- /ˈmædrɪɡəl/
- Specialized
:
madrigal
- In music class, we studied the structure of a madrigal, focusing on its poetic form and vocal arrangement.
Examples
-
The four singers, including the bride and bridegroom, try to cheer themselves up through the two verses of this perfect madrigal, or four-part song in alternating homophonic and polyphonic sections.
Academic text (2000) -
One can rather consider the eight-line madrigal inserted immediately.
Academic text (2003) -
"A sweet arpeggio madrigal emanated in the distance."
Fiction book (2000) -
There were landscapes to be painted, women to charm, mountain streams to frost my toes in, and madrigals to be sung.
Fiction book (1994) -
Include a variety of musical genres: madrigals, chansons, folk songs, spirituals, and others.
Academic text (2002) -
By introducing the medieval motets and Renaissance madrigals, music teachers can help students better comprehend polyphony as a type of music with many parts moving to some extent independently.
Academic text (2015) -
The sophisticated madrigal culture nurtured by del Monte and Giustiniani exposed Caravaggio to facets of this literary world several years before he met Marino.
Academic text (2012) -
During the Renaissance, many composers wrote madrigals that showcased intricate vocal harmonies.
-
The choir performed a beautiful madrigal that highlighted the group's vocal talents.
Synonyms
A French song from the Renaissance sung by several voices
A lyrical Italian song or poem from medieval to early modern times
A simple Italian song from the 1500s used for entertainment
How Polyphonic
- Specialized
5
9.9
- Specialized
1
4.3
- Specialized
7
3.2
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Etymology
Madrigal comes from Italian madrigale and one idea links it to madre ('mother') or to a word meaning 'mother tongue', so a helpful way to remember it is as a 'mother-tongue song'. That's why a madrigal is a short song for several voices from the Renaissance.