The typical English madrigal might concern itself with the activities of a chap called Amyntas and a shepherdess called Phyllis. They tend their flocks, they kiss, she runs away, they are re-united.

Amyntas may be a sighing poet: his mistress has a dart that pierces him to the heart. He lays his heart at her feet, but she is cruel. He languishes, and is like to die.

In fact - as Molesworth would say - he is uterly wet and a weed. How on earth would these people get on, I wondered, if they were transported into the 21st century? The first madrigal in this group suggests a likely outcome.

The idea of updating the form for modern times took hold of me: if the madrigal is to have new life, it needs texts that reflect truly contemporary concerns. The following five madrigals reflect on various aspects of life in our century.

As we all know, the general listener in modern times has an attention span no longer than some thirty seconds, so to be thoroughly modern, the pieces are short: the set of six can be performed in about five minutes.

They are written in the modern vernacular: listeners should be warned that they contain scenes of a violent nature, and strong language from the start. Those of a squeamish disposition (eg those who hate football) may wish to cover their ears...

The six pieces are:

1: Amyntas and his Love

2: The Barman

3: Capitalism

4: Dumb Animals

5: Estuarial

6. Footie


FLDW

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