Meaning of Villanella in Music
The term "villanella" refers to a type of musical composition that originated in 16th-century Italy. It is a rustic part-song typically performed by three unaccompanied voices. The villanella does not have a fixed form, but it is characterized by its pastoral subject matter.
The word "villanella" derives from the Italian word "villano," which means peasant or villein. It is related to the Medieval Latin word "villanus," which means "farmhand." The initial distinguishing feature of the villanella was its pastoral subject matter, reflecting its rustic origins.
The villanella form was intended to imitate the rustic Italian villanella dance songs of the time. It started as a simple ballad-like song with no fixed form and later evolved into a more structured composition. The fixed form of the villanella that is used today is debated, but it gained popularity in the late 19th century.
The villanella is not limited to music. It has also influenced poetry, particularly the poetic form known as the villanelle. The villanelle is a highly structured poem that consists of five tercets followed by a quatrain. It often treats the subject of obsessions and appeals to outsiders. The defining feature of the villanelle is repetition, with two refrains that appear in every stanza.
In summary, the villanella is a 16th-century Italian rustic part-song with no fixed form other than the presence of three unaccompanied voices. It originated from the Italian word "villano," meaning peasant or villein, and was characterized by its pastoral subject matter. The term "villanella" has also influenced the poetic form known as the villanelle, which is a highly structured poem with repeated refrains .
A Renaissance polyphonic vocal form, usually with a simple tune in the top voice, and somewhat homophonic, regular rhythms in the lower voices. The villanella was popular especially in Italy, and retained its separate identity through concurrent evolution of the madrigal.
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