Ben può scaltro amatore

Antonio Cifra's madrigal Ben può scaltro amatore paints a vivid picture of love's unexpected power. The text explores how a clever lover might dodge the fatal darts of beautiful, smiling eyes, but asks who can escape the arrows of sad, weeping glances. The composer vividly illustrates the lyrical lament that love's flame can burn intensely even amidst tears and sighs. Cifra captures the dramatic contrast between the lover's apprehension and the overwhelming force of emotion, likening love's strike to lightning flashing from a clouded sky. Scored for SSATB voices, this Italian secular madrigal offers a rich opportunity for expressive ensemble singing.