I me ne sto tal'hor si disperato

Giaches de Wert's I me ne sto tal'hor si disperato is a secular Italian canzonetta for SSATB voices, dating from the late Renaissance. The text opens with the singer feeling so desperate that they wish to see the world turned upside down, falling from its highest point to its lowest. Wert’s setting captures this intense emotional turmoil through rich, imitative vocal writing that ranges from moments of dramatic dissonance to passages of serene beauty. This canzonetta would be an excellent choice for a concert programme, offering a glimpse into the expressive vocal chamber music of the period. Its intricate part-writing and passionate text provide a rewarding challenge for an experienced choir.