Gesualdo's “Libro primo di Madrigali a cinque voci” was first published in 1594 in part books by Baldini in Ferrara. (However, we know that a "private" printing had existed previously, but no trace of it has survived). The present edition is based on the Ferrara first printing, but also draws on all surviving later sources (as well as those of the texts) for comparison.

In addition to explanations concerning the transmission of the printed edition as well as philological questions, the editor...