Hor ch'a l'albergo del Monton

Orlando di Lasso’s Hor ch’a l’albergo del Monton is a secular madrigal for six voices (SSATTB). The music opens with the upper voices entering in imitation, creating a sense of awakening and burgeoning life, before the lower voices join to add richness and depth. The text, by Gabriele Fiamma, depicts the return of spring. It describes the sun returning to the sky, bringing colour and life back to the landscape after winter’s chill. The music mirrors this imagery, with the vocal lines interweaving to suggest the unfolding of nature, painting a vibrant sonic picture of trees becoming green and flowering once more.