Gia cominciava il Sol

As dawn breaks over the hills and the sun begins to melt the snow and ice, this madrigal by Giovanni Andrea Dragoni captures the moment. Even the sky is in turmoil, with no birds to be heard and no leaves on the trees. Yet, as the light of day appears, a beautiful flower is seen to bloom by a spring. Dragoni’s SATTB setting in Italian vividly portrays the contrasting images of the harsh winter and the delicate new life. This secular work from the Renaissance era is perfect for choirs looking for expressive, text-driven repertoire that evokes strong natural imagery.