Guerra, guerra cercamo

Simon de Baldis was a composer of secular Italian madrigals in the late Renaissance. This work for SSATBB voices is a dramatic and aggressive setting of a text that calls for war and bloodshed, a furious response to the scorn of beloved women. The lyrics express a desire for freedom and a fierce determination to fight, culminating in a grim threat to the women who have rejected their suitors. The composer uses the full forces of the six-part choir to articulate the text's passionate and violent sentiments, creating a powerful and visceral musical statement. The energetic text, full of exclamations, is matched by the musical setting, driving the narrative forward with relentless intensity.