Deh s'io v'hò dato il core

Imagine a gathering of musicians in a Renaissance court, perhaps during an evening of refined entertainment. It is in such a setting that this secular Italian madrigal by Pomponio Nenna would have been heard. Composed for five voices (SSATB), the work explores the depths of romantic feeling, setting a poem of intense devotion and plea. The text, a direct address to a beloved, questions what further proof of love is required, lamenting that disbelief in the singer's affection is akin to death. Nenna's setting likely employs the imitative polyphony characteristic of the genre, allowing each voice to contribute to the rich emotional expression of the text. This is music for connoisseurs, a vibrant example of secular part-song from the late 16th or early 17th century.