The Elizabethan madrigal had the characteristics of the English popular poetry of the 16th century, but was also influenced by Italian literature and music. John Dowland’s poetry is melancholic and desperate. The context is quite morbid, and the composer used two different polyphonic patterns. Singers play with their voices. The last pattern “kiss me sweet” is very similar to another pattern of contemporary sheet music. The last “farewell” is a reminder that these songs have to be sung in a funny way. Even if the text is serious, the aim of madrigals’ composers is to entertain a good company with soft and fine songs.
