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madrigal Definition

mad·ri·gal (madri gəl)

noun

  1. a short poem, usually a love poem, which can be set to music
  2. an often contrapuntal song with parts for several voices singing without accompaniment, popular in the 15th, 16th, and 17th cent.
  3. 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.

Browse dictionary entries near madrigal

  1. Madrid
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  4. Madre de Dios
  5. madre
  6. madras
  7. Madonna lily
  8. madonna
  9. madness
  10. madman
  1. madrilène
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  3. Madura
  4. Madurai
  5. maduro
  6. madwoman
  7. madwort
  8. mae
  9. Mae West
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