L.L. Francesco Landini- Ecco la Primavera

The title of this piece means, "Spring has come apace." In structure, the piece follows the form of the Ballata, in which the form begins, works around with its themes, and then ends with the original material again. The ballata was performed to celebrate the coming of Spring, and as a good will gesture to the coming year. The two voices sing a duet, often crossing over each other in a similar register.

Landini was a Florentine composer born ca.1325-1335 and died in 1397. His father was an accomplished painter in the school of Giotto, which is impressive. Landini was born blind, and therefore took to music as a safe haven, mastering many instruments and developing a few of his own. He is considered one of the great masters of the "Trecento" composers, and his output is comprised of mostly secular music, though he did create some sacred music.

He is also the eponym of the Landini cadence, which inserts the sixth scale degree in between the leading tone and the tonic resolution. Although this cadence is not exclusive to his music, nor did it originate with Landini, he is still accredited with popularizing it.