Dolcissimo legame

Ruggiero Giovannelli was a composer of the late Renaissance, active in Rome. Dolcissimo legame is a secular madrigal for SSATB voices. The Italian text speaks of a sweet bond, formed by loving words, which now loosens as if in jest, leaving the souls bound in insidious chains. The singer longs to be held by the beloved, even within these deceptive ties. The music would have been intended for the entertainment of the court and for private musical gatherings. The expressive Italian poetry is matched by the composer's sensitive musical setting, typical of the madrigal tradition of the period.