Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

The Italian Influence

Donald Macleod examines the impact of Italy on England鈥檚 Golden Age and the role of Thomas Morley and his monopoly of printing in the promotion of Italianate styles.

The composers of 16th-century England flourished under the rule of Elizabeth I, rapidly developing a diverse musical culture unparalleled anywhere on the continent, a truly Golden Age for English music. In this week of programmes Donald Macleod explores six composers who were key to this ascent - Thomas Morley, John Bull, Peter Philips, Thomas Weelkes, Orlando Gibbons and Thomas Tomkins. These composers were all active at around the same time as the 鈥淔ather of British Musick鈥 William Byrd and John Dowland, and all either studied or worked with Byrd, but they don鈥檛 often receive the same attention as those more famous names. One of the major factors in this English explosion of cultural maturity was the influence of the Italian renaissance. In Tuesday鈥檚 programme, Donald examines the impact of Italy on England鈥檚 Golden Age and the role of Thomas Morley and his monopoly of printing in the promotion of Italianate styles.

Alfonso Ferrabosco the Elder: Questi ch'indizio fan del mio tormento (Madrigal from Musica transalpina I, 1588)
La Compagnia del Madrigale

Morley: Now is the month of maying; Sing we and chant it; On a fair morning
Madrigal;
The King鈥檚 Singers
Robert Spencer, lute

Morley: Canzonets or Litle Short Aers to Five and Six Voices: No. 12 Cruel, Wilt Thou Persever
King鈥檚 Singers

Morley/Philips: Pavan & Galliard (arr. Philips based on Morley鈥檚 originals)
Rose Consort of Viols

Philips: Lasso, non e morir
Cappella Mediterranea
Leonardo Garcia Alarcon, director

Philips: Amarilli (after G. Caccini)
Christopher Hogwood, virginals

Philips: Gaude Maria virgo
Stile Antico

Weelkes: O Care Thou Wilt Dispatch Me (Parts 1 and 2)
Hilliard Ensemble
Paul Hillier, conductor

Weelkes: Come, Sirrah Jack, ho!
The King鈥檚 Singers

Weelkes: Thule, the period of cosmology 鈥 The Andalusian merchant
The Queen's Six

Gibbons: The Silver Swan (c.1611)
The Sixteen
Harry Christophers, conductor

Tomkins: Oft did I marle (c.1622)
I Fagiolini
Robert Hollingworth, conductor

Produced by Sam Phillips for 成人快手 Wales

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Alfonso Ferrabosco

    Questi ch'indizio fan del mio tormento

    Ensemble: La Compagnia del Madrigale.
    • ARCANA A363.
    • ARCANA.
    • 12.
  • Thomas Morley

    Now is the month of Maying

    Ensemble: The King鈥檚 Singers.
    • MOSS MUSIC GROUP.
  • Thomas Morley

    Now is the Month of Maying

    Performer: The King鈥檚 Singers. Performer: Robert Spencer.
    • WARNER CLASSICS 7777492655.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 4.
  • Thomas Morley

    Sing we and chant it

    Performer: The King鈥檚 Singers. Performer: Robert Spencer.
    • WARNER CLASSICS 7777492655.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 15.
  • Thomas Morley

    On a fair morning

    Performer: The King鈥檚 Singers. Performer: Robert Spencer.
    • WARNER CLASSICS 7777492655.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 16.
  • Thomas Morley

    Cruel, wilt thou persever?

    Performer: The King鈥檚 Singers.
    • WARNER CLASSICS : 9029570282.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 4.
  • Peter Philips

    Pavan and Galliard (based on Morley)

    Ensemble: Rose Consort of Viols.
    • VOX REGIS VXR0004.
    • VOX REGIS VXR0004.
    • 13.
  • Peter Philips

    Lasso, non e morir

    Ensemble: Cappella Mediterranea. Conductor: Leonardo Garc铆a Alarc贸n.
    • Ambronay AMY015.
    • Ambronay AMY015.
    • 4.
  • Peter Philips

    Amarilli (after Caccini)

    Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • DECCA 4805597.
    • DECCA.
    • 1.
  • Peter Philips

    Gaude Maria virgo

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • Harmonia Mundi : HMM902266.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 5.
  • Thomas Weelkes

    O Care thou wilt dispatch me

    Ensemble: The Hilliard Ensemble.
    • ERATO 5616712.
    • ERATO 5616712.
    • 13.
  • Thomas Weelkes

    Come Sirrah Jack, ho!

    Ensemble: The King鈥檚 Singers.
    • WARNER CLASSICS 7777492655.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 12.
  • Thomas Weelkes

    Thule, the period of cosmographie (The Andalusian Merchant)

    Performer: The Queen鈥檚 Six.
    • Resonus Classics RES10164.
    • Resonus Classics RES10164.
    • 15.
  • Thomas Tomkins

    Oft did I marle

    Choir: I Fagiolini. Director: Robert Hollingworth.
    • CHANDOS CHAN0680.
    • CHANDOS CHAN0680.
    • 11.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 4 Jun 2019 12:00
  • Tue 25 Oct 2022 12:00

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time 鈥 why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.