The Silver Swan: Farewell All Joys

In honor of the 400^th anniversary of the death of Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), ARTEK performs music from The First Sett of Madrigals and Mottets of 5 parts apt for Viols and Voyces (1612). The first madrigal of the set, “The Silver Swan,” has become perhaps the best-known English madrigal; the text is inspired by the legend that a swan only sings once, as it nears death.  All of the madrigals are similarly set to texts of an introspective, deeply emotional nature.