Fuggi tua speme, fuggi

The composer Marco da Gagliano presents a striking secular Italian madrigal for SSATB voices. The text, sung from the perspective of a scorned lover, describes a lover's pleas being rejected by a 'lovely little angel'. The beloved declares that the lover's hope is in vain and their suffering pointless. When the lover claims they would die without her, she dismisses their fear of death as born of foolishness. Gagliano's setting, typical of the Italian madrigal tradition, would have been intended for intimate performance among discerning listeners, showcasing both textual declamation and rich vocal harmony.