What is a defining feature of Arcadelt's "Il bianco e dolce cigno"?

Arcadelt's "Il bianco e dolce cigno" is indeed notable for being a four-voice a cappella madrigal. This composition exemplifies the madrigal genre, which flourished during the Renaissance and is characterized by multiple voices singing independently of each other while expressing a shared text. The term "a cappella" indicates that the music is performed without instrumental accompaniment, which allows for intricate vocal harmonies and interplay between the voices.

The choice of a four-voice setting is significant as it reflects the common practice of the time, where composers employed multiple vocal lines to create a rich, textured sound. The focus on vocal expression, combined with poetic texts, made madrigals a popular form for intimate settings and settings of personal emotion, such as love.

The other options describe features that do not apply to this specific work. For example, large orchestral accompaniment and solo vocal work with piano would indicate a different style or genre entirely, likely from later periods. Similarly, while polyphonic texture may be a component in madrigals, the term "strictly polyphonic" may not fully capture the essence of Arcadelt's writing, which also emphasizes lyrical expressiveness and clear melody within the harmonic structure. Thus,