Description

Madrigale III

for Solo Violoncello
Duration: ca. 14′

1. Prelude
2. Interlude 1
3. Movement
4. Interlude 2
5. Postlude

by Edward Caine

Madrigale III  is one of a succession of pieces which divide up the Italian renaissance chanson “madre non mi far monica” into pitch sets from which the material is derived. The other pieces are Madrigale in 12 parts for three trombones and Madrigale II: Qu’est devein ce bel oeil.

In this piece the derived movements are interleaved with arrangements of the chanson.  It is an exploration of a pitch arena and of the boundaries of ‘cello technique.  The chanson here acts as a grounding tool for the harmonies which are predominantly cluster based.