Amor ch'a mille mille prove

Imagine a warm Italian summer evening, perhaps at a garden party or a gathering of friends, when this delightful madrigal might be sung. Amor ch'a mille mille prove is a secular piece for four-part choir (SATB) by Marco Antonio de Pordenon. The Italian text speaks of love's enduring power, the singer's steadfast faith, and the desire to remain bound by ancient loyalties, rejecting new hopes in favour of deeply rooted affection. De Pordenon’s music would have been designed to capture the spirit of the text, with nimble vocal lines and expressive harmonies typical of the Renaissance madrigal tradition, making it a charming addition to a programme of secular part-music.