Cor mio, deh, non piangete

This Italian madrigal, Cor mio, deh, non piangete, by Ruggiero Giovannelli, would be most at home in a secular concert setting. Its SAATB voicing allows for rich harmonic colour and detailed contrapuntal writing. The text speaks of the singer’s heart being pained by the beloved’s suffering, a shared melancholy that paradoxically prevents healing. It explores the complex interplay of love, pity, and the desire for solace, with the poet lamenting that the very compassion shown by the beloved is itself a source of further torment. This madrigal is a fine example of Renaissance part-music, offering expressive opportunities for a skilled choir.