Ardo sì, ma non t'amo

Ardo sì, ma non t'amo is a secular Italian madrigal for SATTB choir. The music opens with a clear, direct statement, soon developing into intricate polyphonic writing where the voices weave together in imitative and homophonic passages. The text, by Guarini, expresses a powerful rejection of a faithless lover. The singer confronts their beloved, stating that love has turned to scorn, and the heart, once wounded, is now healed. The composer uses the madrigal form to vividly portray this emotional turmoil, contrasting moments of intense feeling with passages of cool detachment. The SATTB voicing allows for rich harmonic colours and dramatic contrasts, exploring the full dynamic and expressive range of the ensemble.