Cosi dicendo

Tiburtio Massaino's Cosi dicendo opens with a delicate interplay of voices, creating a texture that is both intimate and expressive. This Italian secular madrigal for SATB voices explores the poignant narrative of a dream that turns to disappointment. The text describes a moment of apparent closeness, only for the dreamer to awaken and find their embrace empty, clutching only air. Massaino's setting captures the fleeting nature of this imagined intimacy, with the music reflecting the shift from hopeful anticipation to the stark reality of waking. It is a compelling example of Renaissance part-music, where harmonic colour and vocal lines work together to convey the text's emotional arc.