Deh, come in van chiedete

Salamone Rossi was a significant composer of the Italian Jewish community in Mantua during the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. His secular madrigals, like Deh, come in van chiedete, showcase his skill in setting Italian poetry to music. This SSATB setting expresses the sorrow of a lover whose beloved is deaf to his song, rendering him mute. He laments that the absence of her voice has stolen his own, leaving only the harmony of sighs and laments in his heart. If her harshness silences his voice, he offers his tears as his only remaining song, a poignant expression of unrequited affection.