Performing Forces, Melody, and Texture

Text and Form:

Descending melodic/scales on "descending"

As Vesta was from Latmos hill descending,

Ascending melodic/scales on "ascending"

she spied a maiden queen the same ascending,

Melody gently undulates, neither ascending nor descending.

attended on by all the shepherds swain,

Rapid imitative descending figures on running down

to whom Diana's darlings came running down amain.

Two voices, three voices, and then all voices

First two by two, then three by three together,

solo voice or unison

leaving their goddess all alone, hasted thither,

All voices in delicate polyphony

and mingling with the shepherds of her train with mirthful tunes her presence entertain.

All voices unite to introduce the final proclamation

Then sang the shepherds and nymphs of Diana,

Brief, joyful phrase imitated among voices is repeated over and over

Long live fair Oriana!