Madrigals

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of secular vocal music that originated during the Renaissance, often featuring multiple voices and intricate harmonies
2. A composition for several unaccompanied voices that typically expresses themes of love and nature, popular in the late 15th to early 17th centuries
3. A style of song characterized by its polyphonic texture, where singers perform different melodic lines simultaneously, frequently celebrating lyrical themes

Etymology: Madrigals are a plural, so the story belongs to the singular "madrigal", which came into English from Italian "madrigale". The Italian word is traced to Latin "matricalis", meaning "of the womb" or "primary", from "matrix". Its earlier sense is unclear, and the link to the Latin root is a matter of scholarly debate. Musically, the Italian form named a secular part-song for several voices, often setting love poetry, that flourished in the Renaissance. The surprising part is how far the word's meaning has traveled from its Latin ancestor: a word built on the idea of a mother or source became the name of a courtly vocal genre sung by small groups of singers gathered around a table.

Synonyms: songs, chants