Dolcissimo piacere

Francesco Soriano's Dolcissimo piacere is an SSATB madrigal for mixed voices. The composer creates a rich texture, with the five vocal parts weaving in and out of each other to explore the text's central theme. The Italian lyrics speak of a sweet pleasure that banishes tears and suffering, suggesting a divine origin and a desire to inspire love of freedom and virtue. However, the poem offers a cautionary note about the fleeting nature of earthly delights and the potential for human desire to lead one astray, forgetting heavenly concerns. Soriano's musical setting, with its intricate part-writing, perfectly captures the shifting moods of the text, from ardent praise to poignant reflection.