Dunque esser può

The poet questions how passions can be so deeply imprinted on a fickle heart, and how senses can burn with a fire long extinguished. He asks what beast or stone could remain unmoved by the piteous sound of this noble song. Ruggiero Giovannelli's setting for SATB voices captures the introspective and questioning nature of Jacopo Sannazaro's text. This secular Italian madrigal from the Renaissance explores the paradox of enduring emotion and the power of music to stir the soul. The four-part writing allows for rich harmonic interplay, reflecting the dramatic and philosophical sentiments of the lyrics.