Donna se quel ohime

Benedetto Pallavicino, a composer of the late Renaissance, wrote this secular Italian madrigal for SSATB voices. The text expresses a lover’s plea, contrasting his suffering with the beloved’s joyful singing. He laments that if her singing brings her such happiness, he wishes for his own pain to transform into a sweet death, a state he will proclaim a thousand times. Pallavicino’s setting captures the emotional intensity of the words, with its intricate vocal lines and rich harmonies characteristic of the madrigal tradition. This piece offers a poignant exploration of unrequited love and the power of music to both express and transform human emotion, making it a compelling choice for discerning choirs.