Dhe lasciati basciar

Teodoro Riccio was a composer active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. This secular canzona for SSATB voices is written in Italian. The text expresses a passionate plea for a final kiss before death, with the singer finding contentment and a path to paradise in that last embrace. The music likely reflects the text's urgent and heartfelt sentiment through its harmonic and melodic contours, typical of the period's expressive secular part-music. It is a poignant example of the canzona genre, offering a rich sonic experience for a skilled choir.