Monteverdi - Fourth Book of Madrigals 1615

In this book, Monteverdi continues to develop the techniques and writing practices that would eventually form the first opera and his “Stile Nuovo”. The polyphony becomes more complex and more tonal and the interdependence of the parts more striking. He is experimenting with more dissonance but also moves towards more tonal writing. Although a far cry from the “I IV V and minor” of the modern pop song, he is nonetheless helping to push forward a more diatonic type of harmony with a more dramatic tonal and harmonic structure that goes much more towards true word painting than his previous books.

1. Ah! Dolente Partita – Oh, Sweet Parting! 2. Cor Mio Mentre Vi Miro – My Heart as I dream I turn into you. 3. Cor Mio Non Mori? E Mori – My heart did not die? And it died 4. Sfogava con le stelle – He dallied with the stars 5. Volgea l' anima mia – Volgea my soul, so dear and sweetly shining 6. Anima mia perdona – My soul forgives 7. Che se tu se ' il cor mio – That if you are as good as my heart 8. Luci Serene e Chiare – Lights, serene and clear 9. La piaga c'ho nel core – The plague is in the heart 10. Voi pur da me partite – You do not mind me, though 11. A un Giro Sol de' Begl' Occhi – At one glance of good eyes 12. Ohime se Tanto Amate – Alas! If you like it too much 13. Io Mi Son Giovinetta – I’m a young girl, laughing and singing 14. Quel Augellin Che Canta – That little bird that sings 15. Non Più Guerra Pietate – No more fighting, pray, my beautiful eyes 16. Si Ch'io Vorrei Morire – How I want to die 17. Anima Dolorosa – Suffering soul that lives so much pain and torment 18. Anima Del Cor Mio – My soul’s heart 19. Longe da Te Cor Mio – Stay away from me 20. Piagne e Sospira – He drinks and sighs

Parts are supplied for flexible brass/wind quintet: Part 1 in Bb, Part 2 in Bb, Part 3 in Eb/F/Bb, Part 4 in Bb/C(BC), Part 5 in Eb/C(BC)/Bb