Amor è ritornato

The Italian composer Luca Marenzio depicts the return of Love in this secular madrigal. The text paints a vivid scene of Love, described as 'dispietato' (merciless), returning from the battlefield, his chariot drawn by a million captive lovers. Marenzio captures this dramatic imagery with music that is both expressive and engaging for the voices. This SAB setting offers an accessible yet rewarding opportunity to explore the rich harmonic language and word-painting characteristic of the Renaissance madrigal tradition. It is a fine example of Italian secular part-music from the period.