Care vermiglie labra

Jan Tollius's Care vermiglie labra is a five-part madrigal, ideal for a chamber choir looking for expressive Renaissance Italian repertoire. The text, a Petrarchan sonnet, presents a lover's plea to his beloved for a kiss, arguing that granting life to the dying lover would bring her greater glory than any earthly treasure. The music, a sensitive setting of this impassioned text, would suit a concert programme or a gathering of friends. The SSATTB voicing allows for rich harmonic possibilities, and the composer’s skill in weaving together the vocal lines creates a compelling and intimate dialogue between the voices.