Why the Italian Madrigal?
Simply put, if you like early music and a cappella singing, and are not averse to tackling new or unfamiliar works, chances are you’ll love Italian madrigals, especially madrigals from the period 1580-1605, which are those mainly represented here. Chances are you will have a huge amount of fun exploring this vast, varied and little-known repertoire, which can be as profound and sophisticated as the chamber music of any age, and yet is accessible (with a little assistance) even to moderately accomplished amateur singers. And, especially if you are in a congenial and supportive group, the shared experience can be intense. What’s the Catch? Actually, there are several catches. In the first place, you need a group to sing with. Assembling a good Italian madrigal group is only slightly less complicated than putting together a decent baseball team. First and foremost, you need to “cover the bases” in terms of the number of participants and their vocal ranges. Probably the most flexible combi
