Choir - Digital Download SKU: A0.1059480 Composed by Thomas Weelkes. Arranged by David Warin Solomons. Renaissance. Full Performance. Duration 239. David Warin Solomons #3387825. Published by David Warin Solomons (A0.1059480). Sung by the dwsChoraleThule, the period of Cosmography (and The Andalusian merchant) - a madrigal for 6 voices by Thomas Weelkes Interpretation: Iceland (it means Iceland here, since Hecla (Hekla) is mentioned, although Thule does now refer to other distant places), the period (ie full stop) of mapmaking (ie the end of the known world) boasts of its volcano Hecla, whose sulphurous fire melts the ice and thaws the sky Etna's flames on Sicily are no higher than this (this is poetic licence, Etna is actually higher than Hecla!) These things are amazing but not as amazing as me because I can be both cold and hot, with fear and with love The second verse is fairly self explanatory, although there is debate as to whether Fogo (= fire in Portuguese) refers to the volcano in Cape Verde (off Senegal) or to Tierra del Fuego. I would vote for Cape Verde since the harmony, when referring to Fogo, is probably one of the most chromatic pieces of writing in the madrigal repertoire and is a marvellous depiction of the lava flowing down a volcano.
