David Conte

Autumn from Madrigals for the Seasons

Madrigals for the Seasons was composed especially for Cappella SF, Ragnar Bohlin, conductor. John Clare's poem Autumn conjures up vivid images of this season: the fading of summer flowers, the colors of the leaves, the browning of the fields. Clare personifies the leaves, who talk to us and offer us a lesson about death: The same sad fate approaches you. The musical setting is an expressive Larghetto in the minor mode. The piece ends with a surprising harmonic twist that I hope expresses both the opening of oneself to the acceptance of death, and to the peace that it offers.