Dal tempo che canta il Cucco

From the time the cuckoo sings, and there is so much to do everywhere, should one sing or not sing? There is always something to do. And when he has sung, there is always something to do in every state. Giovanni Cavaccio's Dal tempo che canta il Cucco is a secular madrigal for SATB voices, sung in Italian. Madrigals were popular secular part-songs of the Renaissance, often setting poetry. This example, with its light-hearted text about the busy cuckoo and the busy human world, makes for a charming and engaging offering for an a cappella choir. Its vivacious character would suit many occasions and settings.