This edition was prepared by Willem Verkaik — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Come purpureo fior giace fra l'herba
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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Come purpureo fior giace fra l'herba by Giaches de Wert — Lyrics
Come purpureo fior giace fra l'herba,
E pallidetti mostra i bei colori,
Se'l Sol l'opprime à la più calda Estate:
Così languido giacque (ahi sorte acerba,)
Quando spirava dolci Arabi odori
Questo fior di bellezza, e d'honestate.
Mondo, ch'in altra etate,
Di sì bel germe mai la terra ornata
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About Come purpureo fior giace fra l'herba
On a warm summer's day, the sun's heat can cause a vibrant flower to appear pale and lifeless. The poet uses this image to describe a beautiful and virtuous person, now languishing. The world, once adorned with such a noble bloom, is left barren and blind when a cruel scythe cuts down the plant. This secular Italian madrigal for SATB voices reflects the Renaissance fascination with Petrarchan imagery and expresses profound sorrow at the loss of beauty and virtue. Giaches de Wert's setting captures the lament of the text with poignant musicality, making it a moving choice for a choir seeking to explore the expressive possibilities of Renaissance part-music.
