Cosi un leggiadro

Imagine a gathering in a Renaissance court, perhaps at a feast or social occasion, where skilled singers might entertain with refined part-music. Giovanni Maria Nanino's Cosi un leggiadro, a secular madrigal for two sopranos and tenor, fits such a setting perfectly. The Italian text speaks of a graceful song that calms the air, moves laughter and tears, and softens a hardened heart, even one scornful of love's enticements. Nanino crafts his vocal lines to reflect this sentiment, creating delicate textures and expressive harmonies that capture the sweet, persuasive power of music itself. This intimate work for a small ensemble would have been a popular choice for sophisticated private entertainment.