Filli dolce ben mio

This rich five-part madrigal sets a Petrarchan text of unrequited love, sung in Italian by the soprano, soprano, tenor, tenor and bass voices. The poet implores his beloved Filli to respond to his adoration and alleviate his torment. He asks if his suffering will ever end or if she will ever grant him happiness. Pomponio Nenna’s music responds to the text’s plea with a sensuous, flowing vocal writing, characteristic of the late Renaissance Italian madrigal tradition. It is a secular work, ideal for a choir seeking to explore this vibrant and expressive genre.