Creating the Modern Madrigal: Bringing the Madrigal into the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

This study explores the concept of what constitutes a contemporary madrigal, and how this is inspired by and relates to the Renaissance form of the madrigal. Specifically, it aims to create an updated, more accurate definition of the madrigal than the one currently present in the literature; one that considers twentieth and twenty-first century examples of madrigals in addition to the traditional Renaissance form. The main characteristics of the contemporary madrigal are determined via a historical comparative analysis of contemporary case studies to the Renaissance madrigal, and the design of my own original madrigals acting as a model of the form. It provides a survey of the following works: • George Crumb’s Madrigals Book I • Morten Lauridsen’s Madrigali: Six ‘Fire Songs’ on Italian Renaissance Poems • György Ligeti’s Nonsense Madrigals • Gavin Bryars’ Second book of madrigals • Joshua Shank’s Colour Madrigals It is determined that the most important elements of the madrigal are the secular nature of the text, and the expression of this text; the structure of the madrigal as through composed songs published in unified sets called books; and the madrigal’s intention as music of an educated society, blending a variety of musical textures. By reframing the elements of the madrigal in a contemporary context, it enables tremendous scope for composers to explore this form in a spirit of renewal. I have used both the historical precedents and the contemporary examples as a spring-board for my own creative response. I demonstrate the contemporary relevance of the madrigal through the composition of two books of madrigals that incorporate aspects of both the Renaissance madrigals and elements of the contemporary case studies. These new books of madrigals can be used as a model demonstrating the features of this form, in which an updated definition is clearly represented. Far from being an anachronism, the madrigal is a genre full of life and potential for contemporary exploration.