This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Dolcissima mia vita
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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5 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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Dolcissima mia vita by Carlo Gesualdo — Lyrics
Dolcissima mia vita,
a che tardate la bramata aita?
Credete forse che'l bel foco ond' ardo,
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About Dolcissima mia vita
The celebrated Italian composer Carlo Gesualdo wrote this exquisite madrigal for SSATB voices. Dolcissima mia vita expresses the ardent plea of a lover to their beloved, asking why they delay their longed-for aid and if their gaze, turned away, implies the fire of love will cease. The text passionately insists that this will not be the case, as the lover's desire is solely to either love their beloved or to die. Gesualdo’s setting, typical of secular Renaissance part-music, captures the intense emotional turmoil and yearning inherent in the text, creating a rich and dramatic musical experience.
