This edition was prepared by Pothárn Imre — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Che fai? che pensi? che pur dietro guardi
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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3 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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Che fai? che pensi? che pur dietro guardi by Orlando di Lasso — Lyrics
Che fai? Che pensi? che pur dietro guardi
nel tempo che tornar non puote homai?
Anima sconsolata, che pur vai
giugnendo legne al foco ove tu ardi?
Le soavi parole e i dolci sguardi
ch'ad un' ad un descritti e depinti hai,
son levati de terra; et è ben sai,
qui ricercar gli intempestivo e tardi.
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About Che fai? che pensi? che pur dietro guardi
Orlando di Lasso's SAATB madrigal Che fai? che pensi? che pur dietro guardi opens with a direct, rhetorical question to a disconsolate soul, urging it to cease dwelling on the past. The music reflects this dramatic text, with the five voices weaving together in complex counterpoint that often shifts in texture and dynamics, mirroring the emotional turmoil described. The composer employs rich harmonic language, capturing the intensity of Petrarch's words, as the soul is admonished for nurturing a burning desire and pursuing deceptive thoughts. The piece moves from introspective questioning to a plea for seeking solace in higher things, the intricate interplay of the voices underscoring the speaker's urgent plea to abandon earthly sorrows and look towards the heavens.
