I soventi martiri

Hubert Naich's I soventi martiri is a five-part madrigal for STTTB voices. The music opens with a striking interplay between the upper and lower voice groups, setting a mood of intense emotion. The composer uses these textures to depict the suffering and longing expressed in the text. The Italian lyrics speak of painful martyrdom and the ardent sighs of a lover, who lives in hope and desire to see their beloved again. This person feels afflicted by an iniquitous star, which has made them bitter and robbed them of all good things, even their heart. Naich's setting captures the dramatic arc of the poem, moving from lamentation to a desperate plea.