Alla riva del Tebro

This is a secular madrigal for SATB voices, sung in Italian. The text paints a poignant scene of a young shepherd beside the Tiber, lamenting his cruel fate and the pain that ultimately silences him. His cry for the 'cruel goddess' to be satiated with his suffering is cut short by his own demise, leaving an impression of tragic helplessness. Palestrina's setting captures the emotional intensity of the poem, contrasting moments of passionate outcry with the overwhelming sorrow that leads to the shepherd's untimely end. The composition offers a powerful dramatic narrative suitable for a discerning choir.