Da quei morti

Marcantonio Tornioli was a composer of secular Italian madrigals in the late Renaissance. This example, Da quei morti, is written for treble soloists (SSB). The text speaks of the powerful emotions evoked by the 'dead eyes' of a beloved, which pierce the heart with pity. These eyes, though closed by death, open a path for even greater pity and affection. The composer captures the dramatic pathos of the text, using the vocal lines to express the intense feelings described in the poetry.