Chi dirra mai ch'in donna sia fermezza

Giovanni Domenico da Nola was a prolific composer of secular Italian vocal music in the sixteenth century. This SSA setting of Chi dirra mai ch'in donna sia fermezza comes from a period when the madrigal and the related villanella were flourishing. The text explores the fickleness of women, particularly as they age, contrasting youthful cruelty with later changes in disposition. The composer sets this poetic theme with characteristic Italianate melodic grace, writing idiomatically for three female voices. The clear SSA texture allows each line of the text to be heard distinctly, making this an effective choice for exploring the expressive possibilities of Renaissance part-music.