Deh perche non poss' io

As the Renaissance drew to a close, secular Italian madrigals offered composers a rich vein of expressive text. Tiburtio Massaino here sets a plaintive poem, lamenting the unrequited love of the singer. The four-part SATB writing allows for close imitative textures and moments of dramatic harmonic colour, reflecting the emotional turmoil of the text. The poet questions why his desire cannot be fulfilled when the beloved's gaze inspires all lovers. He rails against a cruel God and Cupid, accusing them of his pain. It is a perfect example of the passionate, text-driven vocal writing characteristic of the late madrigal tradition.