Madrigal Introductions: "I Never Saw A Silver Swan"

"I never saw a silver swan.
They rarely come that color.
The swans I know are white as snow
Or black and oh so duller."

So begins the introduction to the quintessential madrigal, "The Silver Swan", by Orlando Gibbons. Poetic madrigal introductions are one of Tapestry's most popular and unique performance traditions.

I Never Saw A Silver Swan: Poetic Introductions to Madrigals of the Renaissance, 1530 - 1630, a collection of madrigal introductions written by Richard H. Frost, Tapestry's Bard and a charter member of the ensemble, is now in print. The book includes introductions for 146 madrigals (including the entire Oxford Book of English Madrigals), and a score of additional generic introductions and "interludes". The composers are primarily English and Italian, with several French madrigalists. Among the leading composers are Thomas Morley, Orlando di Lasso, Thomas Weelkes, John Wilbye, Orlando Gibbons, Claudio Monteverdi, William Byrd, and Clement Janequin. Here is a delightful example:

Thomas Morley, "My Bonny Lass She Smileth"

My lady says that I'm a fool
And turns a cool fish-eye to me.
Now I, more surely fool than she,
Can better judge a fool to be.
And any youth who asks his love
To smile less oft upon his face
For fear he'll burn too much, or trace
His path from carnal, temporal grace
In truth's a greater fool than I,
Whom love may lash, but cannot fry.
And so we'll sing a Morley tune
For those who fear love's crushing boon.

Tapestry is offering to share these introductions with other choral ensembles that enjoy performing Renaissance polyphonic music. The single copy price of I Never Saw A Silver Swan, ordered by a college, university or other non-profit organization, is $19.95 plus $4.95 for USPS priority mailing, a total of $24.90. Orders by individuals may require additional sales tax. Please contact us for that amount. We regret that we cannot accept credit card orders.

Telephone inquiries can be made to 315 853-6282. Click on the following link to send an email message: tapestrysings25@gmail.com

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Tapestry - The All-Centuries Singers

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Tapestry, 3298 Craig Road, Clinton, NY 13323.


Here is a brief video of author Richard Frost delivering his first introduction, "To Shorten Winter's Sadness".