Li nostri preti han questa bona usanza

Perissone Cambio’s witty villanella Li nostri preti han questa bona usanza depicts a humorous scene. The Italian text describes how local priests, to pass the time, sing litanies, adding the words ‘Omnes virgines e vidue / Concede nobis domine’ to the standard ‘per piantar la radice’. This four-part SATB setting is a delightful example of secular Renaissance part-music, capturing the secular spirit of the villanella form with its playful and slightly irreverent text. The music likely reflects the light-heartedness of the text, making it an engaging choice for a choir looking for something spirited and characterful.