Bone sire, bella brunetta

Adriano Banchieri's Bone sire, bella brunetta is a lively secular villanella for two sopranos and tenor. The music bubbles with a cheerful, almost conversational energy, with the voices interacting in playful imitation. The Italian text speaks of simple pleasures: a desire to sing a little song, a toast to love, an enjoyment of meatballs, and a preference for good company over the more stern Tudesche. Banchieri captures the light-hearted, rustic spirit of the villanella form with a delightful vocal interplay.