This edition was prepared by Allen Garvin — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Ahi bella si, ma cruda mia nemica
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SSATB · Willem Verkaik
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Ahi bella si, ma cruda mia nemica by Girolamo Frescobaldi — Lyrics
Ahi bella si, ma cruda mia nemica,
S'el mio martir non credi,
Perche viv'e non mort'ancor mi vedi,
Se sdegni de tuoi strali,
Colpi men che mortali,
Se brami pur di tragica vittoria,
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About Ahi bella si, ma cruda mia nemica
This striking SSATB setting of an Italian text by Girolamo Frescobaldi presents a dramatic exploration of unrequited love. The music immediately establishes an intense mood, with the five voices weaving a complex contrapuntal texture that vividly captures the anguish and defiance of the text. The composer skillfully employs dissonance and affective harmonic shifts to mirror the speaker's suffering and his plea to his cruel beloved. This secular madrigal demands expressive singing, pushing the boundaries of Renaissance part-music with its raw emotionality and sophisticated vocal writing. It is a powerful testament to the composer's skill in setting words to music.
