This edition was prepared by Willem Verkaik — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Deh se pietosa sei
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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Deh se pietosa sei by Giovanni de Macque — Lyrics
Deh se pietosa sei,
Habbi Vergin pieta de dolor miei,
Ch'io vorrei prest' uscire,
Di fiera servitu d'aspro martire,
So che'l tuo braccio forte,
Mi puo campar o Diva de la morte,
Porgimi dunque aita,
O Saldo Scudo de l'humana vita.
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About Deh se pietosa sei
This Italian madrigal from the Renaissance expresses a fervent plea for divine intercession. The text implores the Virgin Mary, referred to as a 'pure Virgin' and 'Queen,' to have pity on the narrator's suffering and rescue them from a state of 'fierce servitude' and 'bitter martyrdom.' The singer hopes for salvation from death and torment, seeking freedom from all chains and a state of joyful contentment. The SAATB voicing allows for rich harmonic textures to underscore the dramatic and emotional content of the text. The composer, Giovanni de Macque, was a significant figure in late Renaissance and early Baroque music, known for his expressive vocal writing.
