This edition was prepared by Willem Verkaik — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Donna bell'e gentil che'l nom'havete
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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Donna bell'e gentil che'l nom'havete by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina — Lyrics
Donna bell'e gentil che'l nom'havete,
Di quel gran vincitor che'l mondo vinse,
Ch'amor fra l'herb'e fior prese et avinse,
S'humana cosa sete,
Ben si puo dir ch'el ciel vi fece tale
Per far stupir in terra ogni mortale.
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About Donna bell'e gentil che'l nom'havete
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, a towering figure of the late Renaissance, composed this secular Italian madrigal. Written for SATTB voices, Donna bell'e gentil che'l nom'havete sets a Petrarchan sonnet that praises a lady of exceptional beauty and grace. The text describes her as so perfectly formed that she must be an angel descended to earth, her beauty intended to astonish mortals. Palestrina’s music captures the refined sentiments of the poem, with intricate polyphony and expressive harmonic language characteristic of the Roman school. The composer masterfully crafts a musical setting that reflects the elevated and adoring tone of the text, showcasing the expressive potential of a cappella voices.
