Ardemmo insieme bella Donna

This Italian madrigal for SSATB voices opens with a vivid musical depiction of immediate mutual passion. Cifra captures the intensity of the moment through imitative lines and a sense of breathless urgency. The text describes a sudden ardour, comparing the flashing glances of the beloved to lightning. As the poem unfolds, the speaker realises that while his own heart burned with desire, his lady's flame was only on her face, a fleeting outward show. This contrast between inner feeling and outward appearance is reflected in the musical setting, which shifts from intense fervour to a more wistful conclusion, characteristic of secular Renaissance part-music.