La Cortigiana (La mia amorosa bella)

Gastoldi's La Cortigiana is a delightful example of secular Italian madrigal writing for three-part choir (SAB). The music itself is light and graceful, mirroring the text's subject: the beauty and pleasure derived from watching a lady dance. The composer captures the joy and merriment of the scene through a cheerful and energetic musical setting. The interplay between the voices is generally homophonic, emphasizing the text's celebration of visual and emotional delight, especially the pleasure of seeing the lady perform her dance."La mia amorosa bella nel ballar" translates to "My lovely beloved in dancing," and the text continues to express the great joy and amusement her dancing brings to the observer, with every sense delighted by her graceful movements.