Con la sua man

Luca Marenzio was a master of the Italian madrigal, and this SSATTB setting is a prime example of his expressive style. The text describes a moment of intense love, where the singer is overcome by the embrace of his lady. He feels on the verge of death from pleasure, and she, noticing his state, kisses him. His spirit flees to her lips, and he finds himself 'dead in himself, now alive in her'. Marenzio's music captures this dramatic narrative with vivid word-painting, creating a rich and complex sound world for the six voices.