This edition was prepared by Willem Verkaik — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
I lieti amanti
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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I lieti amanti by Giacomo Benincasa — Lyrics
I lieti amanti, e le fanciulle tenere
Givan di prato in prato rammentandosi
Il foco, e'l arco del figliol di Venere.
Non era gelosia, ma sollazzandosi
Movean i dolci balli a suon di cetera,
E'n guisa di colombi ognor baciandosi.
O dolce tempo (*pura fede), o dolce usanza vetera!
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About I lieti amanti
Giacomo Benincasa was a composer active in the 16th century, and this charming piece is an example of secular Italian madrigal writing. Scored for four voices (SSAB), I lieti amanti sets a text by Jacopo Sannazaro from his Egloga Sesta. The lyrics describe joyful lovers and tender maidens dancing and embracing in meadows, recalling the power of Cupid. It paints a picture of innocent affection and lighthearted revelry, contrasting it with the instability of the modern world. The music would have been intended for intimate gatherings of singers, reflecting the spirit of Renaissance part-music meant for both entertainment and artistic expression.
