Seriously Trifling // Abigale Bell

 

I just want to offer a few thoughts on the history of English madrigals.

First, I found it interesting that the English took Italian madrigals and toned them down. They changed the meaning to be more pleasing to the English ear. Apparently, the English weren't into all that deep Italian drama. 

Secondly, an idea that seems to permeate this topic is that of the nature of music. For the Italians, music, specifically the madrigal, was used as a mouthpiece for the composer. He could convey his personal feelings. Expressing emotion towards a lover who broke his heart, or one who had stolen his affections. The Italians put so much emotion and significance in the words and the sound of the music. Not so with the English interpretations. The English adopted a style of madrigal that took the complete opposite track. They continued to word-paint in the Italian style, but the overall meaning was not as deeply significant. The English diluted the drama to make it comical or trivial. This created a new kind of interest; music that was dramatic, though in a different way, yet separated from the voice of the composer. This form of madrigal, which focused on the light-hearted, did not allow the composer to speak as much as for the music to speak for itself. 

Finally, I found it interesting that, in an age where music was so heavily influenced by the church, people would so readily engage in music that was intentionally secular. The heavily symbolic and meaningfully religious music was replaced, at least in England, by a somewhat ridiculous style of madrigal. 

Commented on Braylan's and Caroline's posts.