The Canzone a tre cori by Giovanni Gabrieli, originally composed in the early 17th century for three spatially separated choirs of instruments, was reimagined by Bruno Maderna in 1958. Maderna’s revision retains Gabrieli’s polychoral structure and antiphonal effects but adapts the work for the modern concert hall, employing contemporary orchestration and refined dynamics while preserving the essence of the Renaissance idiom.

Maderna scores the work for modern orchestra, typically assigning the three “choirs” to distinct instrumental groups with clear spatial separation. His orchestration emphasizes clarity of counterpoint and articulation, allowing the original imitative textures and rhythmic vitality to emerge with new timbral richness. He adds precise dynamic shaping, articulation, and instrumental color without altering the core musical material.

The revised version lasts approximately 6–7 minutes and is both a tribute to and reinterpretation of Gabrieli’s style. Maderna’s approach is respectful but inventive, using modern techniques to enhance the antiphonal drama and structural clarity of the original without overshadowing its historical character.