This piece is called As Vesta was Descending, composed by the English composer Thomas Weelkes. He was best known for his madrigals and religious music. Madrigals first appeared in Italy in 1520, it was at this time that Italian poetry became very popular. Madrigals were composed to illustrate the words through the use of word painting. Madrigals were a secular vocal work comprising 3 to 8 voices and were usually sung a cappella. Artwork painting is defined as the musical pictorialization of the words of the text as a device of expression. (http://www.superglossary.com/Glossary/Entertainment/Music/Word_Painting.html) Little is known about the early stages of Weelke's life, but many of his madrigals survive. Thomas Weelkes was organist at Winchester College until he was dismissed for frequent drunkenness, then became organist at Chichester Cathedral. Weelkes was well known for his impressive madrigals, hymns and all the music he composed for the Church of England. Weelkes madrigals are still used in Christian services today; the one being...