Il bianco e dolce cigno

Text

10 line poem b Alfonso d'Avalos

Date

1538

Performing Forces

4 voices, a cappella

Form

Through-composed until last line (many repetitions)

Rhythm/meter

simple movement in duple meter

Composer

Arcadelt

Harmony

Consonant full sound, with some dissonance and chromaticism for expression

Expression

Emotional words set with dissonance, chromaticism, melisma, and repetition

Title

Il bianco e dolce cigno

Genre

Italian madrigal

Melody

Lyrical, conjunct, focus on top line

Texture

Mostly homophonic; imitative entries on last line