madrigal Definition
mad·ri·gal (ma′dri gəl)
noun
- a short poem, usually a love poem, which can be set to music
- an often contrapuntal song with parts for several voices singing without accompaniment, popular in the 15th, 16th, and 17th cent.
- loosely any song, esp. a part song
Etymology: It madrigale < ?
madrigal Related Forms
mad′·ri·gal·ist noun
madrigal Usage Examples
Converse of object
- sing: Those of us who can get up in time also sing madrigals at 7 am on May morning in Second Quad.
- include: Program includes madrigals, Gospel music, Icelandic folk music, and an opportunity to meet the singers afterward.
- write: Seven new works reflecting life in her reign were set alongside 16th century madrigals written to celebrate the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth.
- perform: We also performed Madrigals in the gardens of Mottisfont Abbey last year, as well as singing Evensong at Romsey Abbey.
- think: Circulus are completely self referential -- I don't think madrigals and dressing that way comes naturally for anyone.
Adjective modifier
- Elizabethan: The Knights Templar School chamber choir gave a very slick performance ranging from Elizabethan madrigals to songs from the shows.
- Italian: Yorvox gave a concert of English and Italian madrigals at the Cambridge Early Music Summer School on July 19th, 2002.
- English: A pure descending melody that could be an English madrigal meets warped chords simultaneously shimmering and turgid.
- secular: Palestrina composed 105 Masses, more than 250 motets, Magnificats, other sacred music, and some secular madrigals.
- 16th: Seven new works reflecting life in her reign were set alongside 16th century madrigals written to celebrate the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth.
Modifies a noun
- group: I had a local party annual dinner, he was giving a concert with his madrigal group.
- tradition: All the music they perform is strongly theatrical and often informed by the Italian madrigal tradition.
- writer: These include Thomas Weelkes ( died 1623 religious composer, madrigal writer, Cathedral organist and a notorious blasphemer when drunk!
Noun used with modifier
century: Seven new works reflecting life in her reign were set alongside 16th century madrigals written to celebrate the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth.

