Consort song (Musical)

Consort song is a term used to describe a song for voice accompanied by instruments, usually written in 16th and 17th century England. Typically a high voice is accompanied by four instruments, commonly viols. Although usually five part, some examples of four part songs exist. It is considered an expansion of the ayre and madrigal styles.

The term first appears in Teares or Lamentacions of a sorrowfull Soule of Sir William Leighton published in 1614.

William Byrd is recognized as the most important developer of the genre. He regarded it as a standard means to set vernacular poetry. He states that these are “originally made for instruments to express the harmony and one voice to pronounce the ditty.”

Reference

Consort Songs, Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet, Channel Classics, album notes.