Hor lieto il pesce

As the summer sun beats down, a choir might find themselves drawn to the evocative sounds of Benedetto Pallavicino’s Hor lieto il pesce. This secular madrigal for SSATB voices, sung in Italian, vividly contrasts scenes of nature’s abundance with the composer’s own internal turmoil. The lyrics describe fish leaping in the water, birds flocking from their nests, and Cupid showering arrows on land and sea. Yet, despite the surrounding life and warmth, the speaker is consumed by sorrow and grief, finding himself immersed in tears and mourning. Pallavicino’s setting masterfully captures this poignant juxtaposition, creating a rich and expressive musical experience.