Giovane Donna

Luca Marenzio was a master of the Italian madrigal, and this secular work for SAATTB voices is a fine example of his skill. The text describes a vision of a young woman, pale and cold as snow beneath a laurel tree, untouched by the sun for many years. Her speech, beautiful face, and hair so captivated the poet that he sees her constantly before his eyes, wherever he may be. Marenzio’s setting would have matched the pathos and beauty of the words, using the rich five-part texture to explore the expressive possibilities of the text.