Di morte già sentia

Giaches de Wert's Di morte già sentia is a secular Italian madrigal for SATTB voices. This poignant work captures the intense emotions of unrequited love, a common theme in Renaissance polyphony. The text describes the poet feeling the sting of death, only to be revived by a beloved's gentle gaze and sweet words. Yet, despite this reprieve, the pain of love is so profound that the poet wishes for death a thousand times a day, finding solace only in its approach. The composer's setting vividly portrays this dramatic interplay between despair and a flicker of hope, making it a compelling choice for a choir seeking to explore the expressive depth of the madrigal tradition.