Filli, Filli mia bella

This lively Italian madrigal for SATTB voices opens with a playful, imitative texture as the singers call out to Filli. The music playfully contrasts with the text's dramatic lament, as the poet urges Filli not to weep so excessively for a dead lover. He suggests that if she must weep, she should weep for the death of her many other lovers. Giovanni Battista de Bellis crafts a compelling musical setting that captures the wit and emotion of the text, showcasing the expressive possibilities of Renaissance part-music.