canzonet

canzonet
/kan'zeuh net"/, n.
an early polyphonic song of dancelike character.
[1585-95; < It canzonetta. See CANZONE, -ETTE]

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also called  canzonetta , Italian  canzonetta , Italian plural  canzonette 

      form of 16th-century (c. 1565 and later) Italian vocal music. It was the most popular of the lighter secular forms of the period in Italy and England and perhaps in Germany as well. The canzonet follows the canzonetta poetic form; it is strophic (stanzaic) and often in an AABCC pattern. It is considered a refinement of the villanella (a three-voice form imitating rustic music) but bears some resemblance to the more serious madrigal, one of the major forms of the century. It is light in mood, with a clear four- to six-voice texture, and is characterized by dancelike rhythms, some word painting (musical depiction of certain words like “flight” or “fire”), and much use of simple melodic imitation.

      Claudio Monteverdi (Monteverdi, Claudio), Luca Marenzio (Marenzio, Luca), and other celebrated composers wrote excellent works in this form, but Orazio Vecchi (Vecchi, Orazio) is considered to be the most outstanding canzonet composer. The English composer Thomas Morley (Morley, Thomas) and the German Hans Leo Hassler (Hassler, Hans Leo) were also important, as they both wrote canzonets in their native tongues.

      Although the canzonet was primarily a secular genre, examples with religious texts were also composed. Instrumental accompaniment and even entirely instrumental writing were frequent in later canzonets. They were also sometimes performed as vocal solos with instrumental accompaniment.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Canzonet — Can zo*net , n. [It. canzonetta, dim. of canzone.] (Mus.) A short song, in one or more parts. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • canzonet — or canzonette [kan΄zə net′] n. [It canzonetta, dim. of CANZONE] a short, sprightly song …   English World dictionary

  • canzonet — noun /kanzə(ʊ)ˈnɛt/ A short song, now especially one which is light and breezy. Besides what I have said of one of their warlike songs, I have another amorous canzonet, which beginneth in this sence …   Wiktionary

  • canzonet — noun Etymology: Italian canzonetta, diminutive of canzone Date: 1588 1. a light usually strophic song 2. a part song resembling but less elaborate than a madrigal …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • canzonet — n. short English song in one or more parts …   English contemporary dictionary

  • canzonet — can·zo·net …   English syllables

  • canzonet — /kænzəˈnɛt/ (say kanzuh net) noun a short song, especially a light and cheerful one. Also, canzonetta. {Italian} …  

  • canzonet — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Morley, Thomas — born 1557/58, Norwich, Norfolk, Eng. died October 1602, London English composer, organist, and music theorist. He was educated at Oxford and studied with William Byrd. Though he composed a number of anthems and psalms, he is best known for his… …   Universalium

  • can|zo|net|ta — «KAHN tsoh NEHT ah», noun. = canzonet. (Cf. ↑canzonet) …   Useful english dictionary

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