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Draft of article Musica transalpina

Musica transalpina was the first collection of Italian madrigals published with English texts. It was compiled by the lay clerk Nicholas Yonge in London by Thomas East (the assignè of William Byrd) and is in two volumes: 1588 and 1597. The first contains 57 madrigals in four, five, and six parts by various composers including Byrd, Palestrina, Marenzio; the second contains 24 madrigals in five and six parts by composers including Marenzio, both in partbook form.

Conception

In the preface to the first volume, Yonge states that

"a great number of Gentlemen and Merchants of good accompt (as well of this realme as of forreigne nations) have taken in good part such entertainment of pleasure, as my poore abilitie was able to affoord them, both by the exercise of Musicke daily used in my house, and by furnishing them with Bookes of the kinde yeerely sent me out of italy and other places, which beeing for the most part italian Songs, are for sweetness of Aire, verie well like of all, but most in account with them that understand that language. As for the rest, they doe either not sing them at all, or at the least with little delight."

This foreword states a desire among middle and upper class music enthusiasts in England not only to access and perform Italian song but to understand its texts. [cite somebody here, Perkins Leeman?]

Yonge goes on to write that most of the translations were made "five yeeres agoe", which would have been 1583. This was the same year in which Musica divina, described by Kerman as "the first important

Reception

Joseph Kerman writes of the significant influence which Musica transalpina had over English madrigal composers.

...

William Heather, founder of the music chair at Oxford University, included the book in his portrait, painted c. 1627.