Cruda sirena ch'ancidendo vai

This secular madrigal by Francesco Soriano sets a poignant Italian text that likens a lover's cruel enchantment to a siren's fatal song. The composer vividly portrays the singer's despair, as tears flood the sea and the beloved's very presence dries it up. The SSATB voicing allows for rich harmonic exploration, mirroring the complex emotions of unrequited love. The text culminates in a powerful image of a fish dying on shore, stripped of its element, serving as a metaphor for the singer's fate. Soriano crafts a masterful and dramatic setting, ideal for a choir seeking to explore the expressive depth of the Italian madrigal tradition.