This edition was prepared by Willem Verkaik — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Già Phebo à se raccolti i raggi havea
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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Già Phebo à se raccolti i raggi havea by Francesco Soriano — Lyrics
Già Phebo à se raccolti i raggi havea,
E lo spatio del ciel lasciato à tergo,
E per posarsi nel vicino albergo,
De l'amorosa Theti al mar scendea:
Quando il bel lume mio, che in terra ardea,
Nel cui bel guardo i pensier foschi tergo;
E tutti chiari, e casti al ciel poi gli ergo,
Vide, che di splendor il suo vincea.
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About Già Phebo à se raccolti i raggi havea
Francesco Soriano's madrigal for SSATB voices opens with a rich, complex texture as the voices weave together to depict the setting sun. The Italian text describes Phoebus withdrawing his rays and descending into the sea, setting the scene for a more personal drama. The poem's narrative then shifts to the beloved's radiant beauty, so bright that the sun itself blushes with shame and shamefully retreats. This dramatic contrast is mirrored in the music, which moves from a sense of darkening twilight to a triumphant effulgence. The piece is a fine example of the secular Italian madrigal, showcasing intricate vocal interplay and expressive word painting to convey a vivid emotional arc.
