Grün ist der Mey

This four-part German madrigal by Leonhard Lechner celebrates the arrival of May. The text paints a vivid picture of spring, with green meadows adorned by flowers, mountains and valleys, and the sound of cold springs and birdsong. It contrasts this natural beauty with the human spirit, suggesting that our hearts should also rejoice in this season. The singers are invited to take pleasure in May, and the piece concludes with a plea for God’s continued grace. Lechner’s music would have been performed in secular settings, perhaps at court or in private gatherings, reflecting the Renaissance interest in nature and human emotion.