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Qual Mormorio Soave by Luca Marenzio
a beautiful piece by Luca Marenzio. We've already had a madrigal by Marenzio; this one is different in being a so-called 'madrigale spirituale'. This sounds like a contradiction in terms--
​a madrigal is about love, relationships, the natural world, right?

But, as demonstrated by our motet last Friday (Robert Parsons' 'Ave Maria'), there's not always a bright line between a motet and a madrigal. Some sacred texts are as sensual as they are spiritual, and many madrigal texts are serious explorations of philosophical and spiritual issues.

In 1584, Marenzio published his single book of madrigali spirituali. In it, he brings his full powers as a madrigalist to bear on a set of sacred poems in Italian. 'Qual mormorio soave' is one of my favorites from the book. It's a retelling of the Annunciation, with an atmospheric setting of the scene which seems to bring Fra Angelico's backdrops right off the canvas and into words; and with a closing section which celebrates the joining together of earth and heaven.

Marenzio's exquisite setting of this poem honors the gravity of the moment, but also expresses (in a very madrigalian way) each tiny detail of the poetry in a succession of sensual, evocative moments. The crucial middle section--the Virgin's response--is delivered by the trio of women's voices. Unforgettable!
Download Score
Text and Translation
Italian Pronunciation
Midi Practice Track
Soprano 1 Midi
Soprano 2 Midi
Alto Midi
Tenor Midi
Bass Midi
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