As Vesta Was From Latmos Hill Descending

Listening Guide

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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:

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!