Madrigalisms are devices used in madrigals to enhance or portray the text. They can also be referred to as text paintings or imitations. For example, if a word in the text talks about flying a musical passage will have notes running up. If the text says alone, only one voice will sing. If there is speak of darkness the scoring will generally be low. This became popular in music history during the main output of madrigals: 16th century mainly around the years 1540 to a little after the turn of the century where the Baroque period started.
