L'ombra del sol io veggio

This expressive secular madrigal for SATTB voices by Stefano Bernardi sets a Petrarchan sonnet exploring themes of love and longing. The text uses the metaphor of the sun and its shadow to convey the singer's devotion and desire for his beloved. Even in her absence, he sees her shadow, feeling like a shadow himself, constantly following her. He questions how he can escape the 'fierce heat' of his passion, even when he is consumed by the shadow of his desire. Bernardi's setting would be ideal for a chamber choir seeking to programme rich, expressive Renaissance part-music that delves into the complex emotions of unrequited or distant love.