A che con nuovo laccio

Cipriano de Rore was a leading composer of madrigals in the mid-16th century. This secular Italian work for SAATT voices is a fine example of the genre, exploring the emotional depths of its text. The words speak of the frustration of a lover bound by desire, questioning why he is still ensnared when he has long been devoted. He pleads for release from these bonds, begging his beloved to offer help and compassion, lest he lose his life and she her devoted servant. The music likely reflects this dramatic and passionate text, characteristic of Rore’s expressive style.