Who is the composer of the piece "As Vesta Was From Latmos Hill Descending"?

Prepare for the Graduate Music History Placement Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question comes with hints and detailed explanations. Ace your exam!

The piece "As Vesta Was From Latmos Hill Descending" is indeed composed by Thomas Weelkes. He was an English composer active during the late Renaissance period, renowned for his contributions to the English madrigal. This specific work is a famous example of a madrigal, characterized by its rich textural quality and clever word painting, reflecting the text's meaning in musical form.

Weelkes' reputation for combining playful, intricate vocal lines with textural innovations makes this piece stand out in his oeuvre. The piece was composed around the early 1600s and showcases the

madrigal's popularity during the period, particularly in England, where musicians were increasingly exploring the expressive possibilities of ensemble vocal music.

In contrast, other composers listed did not write this particular madrigal. William Byrd, while a significant figure in Elizabethan music, was known more for his sacred works and early keyboard compositions, and not typically associated with the madrigal form in the way Weelkes is. John Dowland was primarily recognized for his lute songs and instrumental music rather than madrigals. Henry Purcell, active later in the Baroque period, had a different style that focused on opera and dramatic music rather than the Renaissance madrigal tradition.

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