1. It Was a Lover and His Lass
Thomas Morley

2. Thomas Morley 1557-1602 Renaissance Composer Student of William Byrd
Madrigals
Italian style, English text
Twenty-two madrigals in 1594

3. Italian Madrigal secular vocal music composition
through-composed: text expression
after-dinner music
texts about love and merriment
dance rhythms

4. It Was a Lover and His Lass
Late 1590’s
Text from “As You Like It”
Bard of Avon
Two young lovers in Spring
Friendship between Morley and Shakespeare…?
Traditional Italian Madrigal
Polyphony and Homophony
G-Major
Eighth and Quarter Notes

5. Listening Examples http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VkHF6ni5gw

6. Project Choose a sextet, two girls for each part.
Perform this piece as authentically as possible for the rest of the class.
Use costumes, write a dialogue surrounding the performance, choreograph an authentic dance… be creative!
Write a 1-2 page double-spaced paper explaining your performance choices.