Arsi un tempo

A poignant secular madrigal from the late Baroque, Alessandro Scarlatti's Arsi un tempo offers a moment of introspection. The Italian text speaks of past ardour, once sweet to the heart, now transformed by love into a playful diversion. The intense desire, once a burning fire, has cooled to ice, leaving only ashes of the former passion. This expressive SSATB setting, full of the dramatic contrasts characteristic of the genre, would be well suited to a chamber choir looking for musically rewarding Italian Renaissance-style part-music. The flowing melodic lines and rich harmonies provide ample opportunity for expressive ensemble singing.