Hor che'l prato

This secular Italian madrigal for SATTB voices evokes the changing seasons, as the meadows and woods begin to fade. The text, by Giovanni Battista Strozzi, speaks of a longing for rest amidst nature's quietude. The poet contrasts the peace found by wild animals and birds with his own restless suffering. He questions when he will find solace, lamenting his constant wandering, tears, and cries. The poignant plea concludes with a desperate call for death to bring release from his enduring pain. Dragoni's setting captures this sense of melancholy and yearning.