Già mi risi d'Amor de suoi seguaci

Giaches de Wert was a prolific composer of the late Renaissance, known for his masterful madrigals and other secular vocal music. This setting, Già mi risi d’Amor de suoi seguaci, is a fine example of his skill in weaving together expressive Italian text with rich polyphony. Scored for SSATB voices, the work falls into the genre of villanellas or canzonette, forms often characterized by their lighter, more lyrical style compared to the more dramatic madrigal. The text itself speaks of a speaker who has previously scorned love and its followers, only to find himself unexpectedly ensnared by it. Wert's music captures this ironic twist with both wit and sensitivity.