Anna R Matthews

Amantium irae amoris

redintigratia est

for solo voices or small choir

SAATTB

August 2010

Amantium irae amoris redintigratia est

Amantium irae amoris redintigratia est was composed in August 2010 during the choral

composition course led by James Weeks at the Dartington International Summer School.

The challenge had been to set a text written before 1700.

The text set here is the first verse of a poem by sixteenth-century poet and playwright

Richard Edwardes. He writes of hearing a woman trying to sing her baby to sleep at night

and describes her exasperation that it continues to cry. This unusual subject gave rise to a

number of musical ideas: the stillness of night interrupted; strains of lullaby peeping

through; use of harmony and rhythm to suggests feelings of frustration; and, importantly,

the “renewing of love” when the child finally smiles on her and peace is restored.

Workshopped and performed by vocal ensemble EXAUDI at Dartington on 13th

August 2010,

the piece was written for solo voices, SAATTB. The alto parts were originally intended for

countertenors, but contralto voices are as suitable. The piece may equally be performed by

chamber choir.

Anna Matthews

Exeter, August 2010

Richard Edwardes (1525-1566)

Richard Edwardes was born in Somerset. He studied at Corpus Christ College, Oxford, from

1540 and continued at the university with various fellowships and studentships until about

1551. In 1553, he became a gentleman of the Chapel Royal, and master of the children of

the chapel from 1561.

Edwardes was the author of a play performed for Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Oxford in 1566,

Palamon and Arcite. Amongst the actors was John Rainolds, future translator of the

Authorized Version of the Bible. It seems that the Queen was very taken with the work, and

promised Edwardes a reward for his work. Sadly, he died suddenly two months after the

performance.

Although no text of this play survives, a previous comedy, Damon and Pithias, and a

collection of poems, The Paradise of Dainty Devices, were published posthumously. It is

from this anthology that the poem Amantium irae amoris redintigratia est is taken.

Edwardes’ work was very popular during his lifetime, with many eulogies written on his

passing. This, along with his local connection, makes it a greater pleasure to bring his work

to a twenty-first century audience through this choral setting.

Source: John R. Elliott, jun., ‘Edwards, Richard (1525-1566)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford

University Press, Sept 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/85522, accessed 21 Aug 2010]

Amantium irae amoris redintigratia est

In goyng to my naked bedde, as one that would have slept,

I heard a wife syng to her child, that long before had wept:

She sighèd sore and sang full sore, to bring her babe to rest,

That would not rest but crièd still, in suckyng at her brest.

She was full wearie of her watche, and grevèd with her child,

She rockèd it and rated it, untill on her it smilde:

Then did she saie now have I founde, the proverbe true to prove,

The fallyng out of faithfull frends, is the renewing of love.