madrigal
noun
mad·ri·gal ˈma-dri-gəl 
1
: a medieval short lyrical poem in a strict poetic form
2
a
: a complex polyphonic unaccompanied vocal piece on a secular text developed especially in the 16th and 17th centuries
b
: part-song
especially : glee
madrigalian
ˌma-drə-ˈga-lē-ən -ˈgā-
adjective -ˈgā- madrigalist
ˈma-dri-gə-list
noun 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web At best, Gidden’s singing and arrangement of a Monteverdi madrigal achieve remarkable eloquence. 
Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2021 After this is a setting of a Whitman poem for chorus a cappella in the style of a sixteenth-century madrigal, followed by a section in which a line from Dante’s Inferno is sung by a vocal trio in the style of a medieval motet. Walter Simmons, Harper's Magazine, 25 May 2021 To order, call 561-297-2337 or go to FAUF.FAU.edu/madrigal. Rod Stafford Hagwood, sun-sentinel.com, 4 Dec. 2019 Two concerts in the Seaport district follow: Italian madrigals by the Franco-Flemish composer Cipriano de Rore (a recording of which has just been released) next Friday, and a 15th-century program next Saturday. BostonGlobe.com, 25 Oct. 2019 Her two Rossi madrigals on texts by Giovanni Guarini were strong, heartfelt and rapturous in expression. Alan Artner, chicagotribune.com, 9 Apr. 2018 The late-Renaissance composer’s final work, a cycle of 21 madrigals, will be staged by director Peter Sellars in his Ravinia debut. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 14 Mar. 2018 Features madrigals from Books V, VI, VII and VIII, and concertato works from Selva Morale e Spirituale. Rasputin Todd, Cincinnati.com, 2 Apr. 2018 Works by Hartke and Shostakovich, plus madrigals by Gesualdo and Monteverdi. Mark Rapp, cleveland.com, 29 Oct. 2017 See More
Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2021 After this is a setting of a Whitman poem for chorus a cappella in the style of a sixteenth-century madrigal, followed by a section in which a line from Dante’s Inferno is sung by a vocal trio in the style of a medieval motet. Walter Simmons, Harper's Magazine, 25 May 2021 To order, call 561-297-2337 or go to FAUF.FAU.edu/madrigal. Rod Stafford Hagwood, sun-sentinel.com, 4 Dec. 2019 Two concerts in the Seaport district follow: Italian madrigals by the Franco-Flemish composer Cipriano de Rore (a recording of which has just been released) next Friday, and a 15th-century program next Saturday. BostonGlobe.com, 25 Oct. 2019 Her two Rossi madrigals on texts by Giovanni Guarini were strong, heartfelt and rapturous in expression. Alan Artner, chicagotribune.com, 9 Apr. 2018 The late-Renaissance composer’s final work, a cycle of 21 madrigals, will be staged by director Peter Sellars in his Ravinia debut. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 14 Mar. 2018 Features madrigals from Books V, VI, VII and VIII, and concertato works from Selva Morale e Spirituale. Rasputin Todd, Cincinnati.com, 2 Apr. 2018 Works by Hartke and Shostakovich, plus madrigals by Gesualdo and Monteverdi. Mark Rapp, cleveland.com, 29 Oct. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Italian madrigale, probably from Medieval Latin matricale, from neuter of *matricalis simple, from Late Latin, of the womb, from Latin matric-, matrix womb, from mater mother
First Known Use
1584, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
madrigal
noun
as in pastorale
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pastorale
- rondeau
- psalm
- elegy
- eclogue
- dithyramb
- georgic
- sonnet
- pastoral
- triolet
- poem
- villanelle
- ode
- limerick
- epigram
- epopee
- lyric
- rondel
- clerihew
- idyll
- epic
- jingle
- ballad
- rondelet
- epos
- rime
- epode
- rhyme
- song
- idyl
- anacreontic
- rune
- lament
- rondelle
- English sonnet
- poetry
- haiku
- poesy
- tanka
- senryu
- minstrelsy
- lay
- versification
- free verse
- blank verse
- vers libre