Livre II (1590)

• Non si levava ancor l’alba novella [performed once]
• E dicea l’una sospirando [performed once]

Madrigals are a form of vocal polyphony that is unaccompanied by instruments for a varying number of voices, ranging from 2 to 8. Unlike the strophic songs of the time, most madrigals are composed using high-quality poetry, without strophic repetition or refrain. The music is descriptive: it reflects the meaning of the text and expresses the sentiments of each line.