L'orecchie di pietà

Philippe de Monte’s L'orecchie di pietà is a secular Italian madrigal for SAATB/SMsATB voices. The text expresses a lament, with the poet lamenting that compassion's ears are closed. The sun's rays do not shine for them, and a harsh winter remains. The poet wonders if this rough path will lead them back to where their tears first flowed. Monte’s setting would suit a contemplative moment in a concert programme, allowing the choir to explore the rich harmonies and expressive word-painting characteristic of the late Renaissance madrigal tradition. The intricate vocal writing demands skilled singers who can blend and shape the phrases with sensitivity to the text’s melancholic mood.