Asciugate i begli occhi

This striking four-part madrigal, Asciugate i begli occhi, by Pomponio Nenna, directly addresses the beloved, imploring them to dry their beautiful eyes and not to weep at the lover's departure. The text paints a poignant scene of farewell, where the lover's heart is wracked with sorrow at leaving, and fears that parting itself is a death sentence. Nenna's setting captures the intense emotion of the words, with the SATB voices weaving together to express the pain and anguish of separation. It is a fine example of Italian secular part-music from the madrigal tradition, reflecting the expressive possibilities of the genre.