A la villa voy

This anonymous Spanish villancico for STB voices opens with a clear, direct melody, soon taken up by the other voices to create a lively texture. The dialogue between the voices and the rhythmic energy suggest the bustle of a journey to and from the village. The text speaks of a troubled heart, a deep-seated care that brings pain and makes even daily tasks unbearable. The recurring refrain, "If it is not love, I know not what I have," reveals the source of this anguish. This secular song from the Renaissance era offers a delightful musical challenge and a poignant expression of unrequited or difficult love.