As Vesta Was From Latmos Hill Descending
Listening Guide
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Concert Choir
Composer: Thomas Weelkes
Composition: "As Vesta Was From Latmos Hill Descending"
Date: 1601
Genre: Madrigal
Form: Through-composed
Performing Forces: Choral ensemble
What we want you to remember about this composition:
- This composition has many examples of "word painting," where the text and melodic line work together. For example, when the text refers to descending a hill, the melody descends also.
Figure 3.12 | Examples of "word painting" in Weelkes's "As Vest Was From Latmos Hill Descending"
Author | Diana Thompson; Source | ChoralWiki; License | CPDL
Timing
Performing Forces, Melody, and Texture
Text and Form:
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.
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,