Giovanni Gabrieli (c. 1554/1557 – 12 August 1612) was an Italian composer and organist. He was one of the most influential musicians of his time, and represents the culmination of the style of the Venetian School, at the time of the shift from Renaissance to Baroque idioms.
 
Known among brass players primarily for his works for antiphonal brass and choir, this work is one of the very few madrigals for five voices composed by Gabrieli while holding the position as principal organist and composer of St Mark's Basilica in Venice. It was composed in 1586 shortly after the death of his uncle Andrea Gabrieli who preceded Giovanni as the principal composer of St. Mark's.
 
This madrigal is one of five madrigals for 5 voices by Gabrieli published in the second volume of  L'arte Musicale in Italia.