Al dolce mormorare

This secular Italian madrigal by Giovanni Battista Mosto, set for SSATTB, is a vivid expression of amorous delight. The text, by Cesare Rinaldi, poetically describes the gentle murmur of falling water from a fountain that soothes the singer's pains. It speaks of a lover's ardent kisses, where the beloved entices with her lips, leading to an endless exchange of embraces that only intensifies desire. It is ideal for a performance setting that calls for rich, intricate vocal textures and passionate expression, characteristic of late Renaissance part-music.