Thule, The period of Cosmography and The Andalusian Merchant – clarinet sextet (1 E flat, 3 B flats, 1 alto, 1 bass)

Description

Instrumental arrangement of the two part 6-voice madrigal by Thomas Weelkes.
The words describe some of the wonders of the world but conclude that nothing is more wonderful than human feelings.
In the second half (The Andalusian Merchant) the music ventures into unusual cadences that are reminiscent of the works of Gesualdo.

Thule, the period of cosmography,
Doth vaunt of Hecla, whose sulphureous fire
Doth melt the frozen clime and thaw the sky;
Trinacrian Etna’s flames ascend not higher:
These things seem wondrous, yet more wondrous I,
Whose heart with fear doth freeze,
with love doth fry.

The Andalusian merchant, that returns
Laden with cochineal and china dishes,
Reports in Spain how strangely Fogo burns
Amidst an ocean full of flying fishes:
These things seem wondrous, yet more wondrous I,
Whose heart with fear doth freeze,
with love doth fry.