Daphne on the rainbow riding

Daphne rides upon a rainbow, a scene of gods in chiding. Her sudden amazement and ghastly gaze give way to the god of anger, who in his fury casts her down. This dramatic narrative is set for SATB voices in English. Giles Farnaby’s madrigal captures the mythological tale with vivid musical imagery, characteristic of secular Renaissance part-music. The text’s dramatic arc from divine spectacle to divine wrath provides rich material for expressive choral settings.