American Madrigals

Madrigal Cycle on American Folk Songs

Instrumentation:
SATB chorus: a cappella, or with keyboard,
or instrumental ensemble (1101 0000 strings)

1. Kind Miss
2. He’s Gone Away
3. Kansas Boys
4. Adam’s Bride
5. New York Girls

Composer's Note

The texts of Elizabethan vocal music often hark back to folk themes, and popular melodies were freely borrowed by the madrigal composers of that period. But while the classic English and Italian madrigals were written for social singing by individuals, part singing in America — particularly in this century — has been done chiefly by choral groups, with a view toward public performance. These “American Madrigals” are therefore intended for choruses. The folk material, both words and music, has been altered, added to and juxtaposed at will in an attempt to provide polyphonic, madrigal-like choral pieces with a specifically American flavor.”