Deh, coralli ridenti

Giovanni Maria Nanino's Deh, coralli ridenti is a secular madrigal for SATTB voices. The text paints a vivid scene of coral and fragrant pearls, from which a sweet nectar drips. The singer implores these beautiful objects not to close themselves off to his ardent sighs, as his soul is hidden among them, longing to kiss them. Nanino's setting captures the gentle, pleading nature of the words, with the intricate SATTB texture providing a rich canvas for the expressive Italian text. It is a fine example of late Renaissance part-music, where word painting and harmonic colour combine to create a sensuous and evocative atmosphere.