Fresco, dolce, soave

Fresco, dolce, soave, e puro fonte paints a vivid picture of a fresh, sweet, and pure spring that keeps the hills green. The text, by Jacomo Sannazaro, then marvels at a strange event: how the spring's waters were contained in hard ice on a happy dawn. This transformation was apparently for the wonder of a noble plant that seemed to care little for the sky. Giovanni Andrea Dragoni's setting for SATTB voices captures this pastoral imagery and poetic wonder. This is a fine example of secular Italian madrigal writing from the Renaissance, showcasing the composer's skill in musical illustration.