Madrigal
in poetry, a little amorous poem sometimes also called a pastoral poem, containing some delicate and tender though simple thought, and consisting of not less than three or four stanzas or strophes. Madrigals were first composed in Italy, those of Tasso being accounted among the finest specimens of Italian poetry. In music, an important species of vocal polyphonic composition which reached its highest development between the middle of the 16th and the middle of the 17th centuries.
Madrigals are of various kinds: (1) Simple melodies accompanied by other parts not containing counterpoint or imitation; (2) elaborate compositions full of contrapuntal devices, sometimes consisting of two or more movements. The favorite number of parts during the classical period above named was five or six.
MADURA (mä-dö'rä), a maritime district of India, in the S. of of the presidency of Madras, bounded on the E. by the Gulf of Manaar, which separates Hindustan from Ceylon; area 8,401 square miles; pop. about 2,200,000. Chief town MADURA Isles.
MAETERLINCK is Madura, the third largest in the presi- dency; pop. about 150,000. For nearly kenäs and Vaerö, two of the Lofoden dency; pop. about 150,000. For nearly 2,300 years Madura was the political and religious capital of the extreme S. part of India. Its Pandyan kings are mentioned by the ancient Greek geographers. chiefly Tirumala (1623-1659), built here (Siva), with a hall having 1,000 (997) pillars, a fine palace, now ruined, a summer palace for the god, and a great tank. The Jesuits have been active in Madura since the time of Tirumala. ea