In its earliest development it was simple construction: Francesco da Barberino in 1300 called it a "raw and chaotic singalong".
The text of the madrigal is divided into three sections: two strophes called terzetti set to the same music and a concluding section called the ritornello usually in a different meter, creating an aaB form.
[1] The earliest stage in the development of the madrigal is seen in the Rossi Codex, a collection of music from ca.
The form at this time was probably a development of connoisseurs, and sung by small groups of cognoscenti; there is no evidence of its widespread popularity, unlike the madrigal of the 16th century.
By the end of the 14th century it had fallen out of favor, with other forms (in particular, the ballata and imported French music) taking precedence, some of which were even more highly refined and ornamented.