Imparin gl'altri à non alzar le luci

Michel' Angelo Cancineo composed this secular madrigal for SAATB voices. The Italian text speaks of learning not to raise one's eyes too high in flight, for those who fly too high will fall, having seen their own downfall. The piece explores the dangers of ambition and the potential for ruin. Cancineo's work is representative of the rich tradition of Italian Renaissance part-music, where intricate vocal writing was often used to explore poetic and philosophical themes. This madrigal offers a compelling opportunity for a choir to engage with both the expressive text and the sophisticated musical setting characteristic of the era.