Introduction To The Sexual Hints Of Renaissance Madrigals
There is a great number of renaissance madrigals dedicated to secular music at that time whose topics, conspicuously, are related to love. Some of these pieces, however, employ several ways of concealment to imply sexual content through lyrics.
For instance,
Thomas Morley: Now Is The Month Of Maying
Lyrics:
Now is the month of maying, when merry lads are playing, fa la…,
Each with his bonny lass
Upon the greeny grass. Fa la….
The Spring, clad all in gladness, doth laugh at Winter’s sadness, fa la…,
And to the bagpipe’s sound
The nymphs tread out their ground. Fa la….
Fie then! Why sit we musing, youth’s sweet delight refusing? Fa la….
Say, dainty nymphs, and speak, shall we play at barley-break? Fa la….
This song, ostensibly, depicts an image of dancing scene. Actually, dancing is an allusion to sexual activity(usually outdoor). Such scenes are commonly founded in renaissance madrigals. "Barley-break" in the last line refers to an old English game in which the losing couple usually ends up kissing. However, madrigals more often refer to death which is the metaphor for the sexual activity (or orgasm) likewise, being the ultimate indecency.
To uncover the essence of the sexual hints, it is important for us to do some research on the attitude of sex of the people at that time. Although such strong metaphors were applied in madrigal literatures, the lovely tunes could still let people override any uneasiness.
For instance,
Thomas Morley: Now Is The Month Of Maying
Lyrics:
Now is the month of maying, when merry lads are playing, fa la…,
Each with his bonny lass
Upon the greeny grass. Fa la….
The Spring, clad all in gladness, doth laugh at Winter’s sadness, fa la…,
And to the bagpipe’s sound
The nymphs tread out their ground. Fa la….
Fie then! Why sit we musing, youth’s sweet delight refusing? Fa la….
Say, dainty nymphs, and speak, shall we play at barley-break? Fa la….
This song, ostensibly, depicts an image of dancing scene. Actually, dancing is an allusion to sexual activity(usually outdoor). Such scenes are commonly founded in renaissance madrigals. "Barley-break" in the last line refers to an old English game in which the losing couple usually ends up kissing. However, madrigals more often refer to death which is the metaphor for the sexual activity (or orgasm) likewise, being the ultimate indecency.
To uncover the essence of the sexual hints, it is important for us to do some research on the attitude of sex of the people at that time. Although such strong metaphors were applied in madrigal literatures, the lovely tunes could still let people override any uneasiness.