Dice la mia bellissima Licori

Luca Marenzio's secular madrigal, Dice la mia bellissima Licori, explores the elusive nature of love through a charming Italian text. The words describe how love, like a spirit, is intangible and cannot be held or seen. Yet, when looking into the eyes of the beloved, the singer perceives love's presence. This perception, however, remains incorporeal until expressed through a kiss. Marenzio masterfully sets this delicate imagery for SSATTB voices, capturing the playful yet profound contemplation of love's presence and absence with intricate polyphony and expressive harmonic language typical of the late Renaissance.