This edition was prepared by Pothárn Imre — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Dicesi che la morte
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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Dicesi che la morte by Orlando di Lasso — Lyrics
Dicesi che la morte è un'ombra in vista oscura e tanto orrenda
Ch'il nome teme ognun sol che l'intenda
Ed io che già la mia d'or in or veggio
Nascer da gli occhi de la mia nemica
Non è mestier ch'io dica
Quanto del suo venir sia il cor contento
Né dar mi può spavento
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About Dicesi che la morte
This secular Italian madrigal, for SATTB voices, explores a striking paradox: the speaker finds joy in the prospect of death. The text vividly contrasts the common fear of death as a terrifying shadow with the speaker's own experience. Because the 'enemy' (presumably a beloved) causes death to appear in their eyes, the speaker anticipates it not with fear but with contentment. The beloved's beauty is so compelling that even death, when associated with them, is perceived as sweet and desirable, making the speaker believe their own life's ultimate value lies in their demise. Orlando di Lasso masterfully conveys this complex emotional landscape through the rich textures of this five-voice composition.
