chief of these were, Tomaso Pecci, Alessandro Grandi, Sigismondo d' India, Pomponio Nenna, Il Cavalier Tarquinio Merula, Pallavicini, and Dominico Mazzocchi. The only madrigalists after Mazzocchi, who much distinguished themselves, were Stradella, Alessandro, Scarlatti, Bononcini, Lotti, Perti, and Caldara.* As to the proper meaning of the word madrigal, there seems to be no precise definition given of it in our dictionaries. Dr. Johnson calls the madrigal, a pastoral air or song. John Kersey, in his Dictionarium Anglo Britannicum, 1621, says:-Madrigal, a kind of Italian air or song. These accounts speak of it in a musical sense, but do not explain the word itself. Another calls it madrigal, Spanish and French, from maddra; whence it was written anciently, mandriale. Bailey speaks of it thus:—“A Madrigal" says he, "is a little amorous piece, which contains a certain number of unequal verses, not tied to the scrupulous regularity of a sonnet, or subtilty of an epigram, it consists of one single rank of verses, and in that differs from a canzonet, which consists of several * Dr. Burney. strophes, which return in the same order and num-' The following account of the word Madrigal, has been suggested to the Editor :--" An original song of rejoicing in honour of the virgin mother, from madra, mother; and galdere or madrigaldere, a rejoicing hymn to the holy mother." Some pains have been taken to discover the author of the words of that beautiful glee, beginning" When winds breathe soft along the silent deep," but with no other effect than the following information, which the Editor had from Mr. Webbe himself:-He had sent his servant to the chandler's shop, who returned with a printed sheet of paper enveloping the article bought. The beauty of the poetry induced him to set the words to music. The ideas are undoubtedly borrowed from sacred history. * Bailey. ADVERTISEMENT. THE Editor begs Leave to inform those Gentlemen who have favoured him with their Names to this Work, that he is preparing a Second Volume of Poetry, principally written and set to Music in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Those Gentlemen who may wish to become Subscribers will please to honour him with their Names. Glorious Apollo from on high beheld us A gen'rous friendship no cold medium knows.. As on a summer's day.. As o'er the varied meads I stray. Awake, Æolian lyre, awake... xii xvii 1 2 ib. 3 4 ib. As now the shades of eve embrown. 5 ib. 6 7 Are the white hours for ever fled.. As I was going to Derby .. Ah, why this boding start, this sudden pain. Alone thro' unfrequented wilds... As passing by a shady grove.... As I wove with wanton care..`. Altho' soft sleep Death's near resemblance wears Ask't thou, how long my 'ove shall stay. ib. 8 9 10 ib. 11 ib. ib. ib. 18 14 ib. ib. Awake! sweet love! thou art return'd.... Ah grazie si rendono al sommo fattor.. As it fell, upon a day...... ... .... Around the festive board we social join. Arise, my fair one! and receive. ... Awake! sweet muse! the breathing spring. . . PAGE 15 ib. 16 ib. 17 ib. 18 ib. ib. 19 ib. 20 ib 21 ib. 22 ib. ib. 24 ib. ib. B. Blow, blow, thou winter-wind... Blow, blow, Boreas! blow: and let the surly winds.. Blest pair of sirens, pledges of heav'n's joy..... Belinda, see, from yonder flow'rs ..... Blow, warder! blow thy sounding horn.... Breathe soft, ye winds! ye waters! gently flow...... Balmy gale! I prithee say. Belinda's sparkling wit and eyes. By Celia's arbour, all the night. 25 ib. 26 27 ib. 29 ib. 30 ib. |