Guerra non ho da far

Giacomo Gorzanis was a composer of the mid-16th century, active in Venice, a vibrant centre of musical life. This secular Italian madrigal, Guerra non ho da far, is written for three male voices (TTB). The text expresses a poignant paradox: the singer wages no war yet finds no peace. He constantly seeks the one who destroys him, yet this same person, who could give him life, always flees from him. The musical setting reflects this emotional turmoil, typical of the sophisticated madrigal tradition.