L'altr' hier mi chiese

Imagine a lighthearted encounter in a garden, perhaps in late spring, where a suitor asks his beloved for a kiss in return for a pretty flower. This secular Italian madrigal for SSATB voices by Cesare Zoilo explores the fleeting beauty of the bloom contrasted with the enduring nature of love's desire. The music would naturally reflect the playful exchange and the lover’s gentle plea, offering a delightful moment of Renaissance part-song. The composer captures the wit of the text, where the beloved withholds the kiss, perhaps fearing it might 'wither' the suitor’s longing, or simply to preserve its freshness.