As part of my continuing project to transcribe Monteverdi's madrigals onto winds, here is the 6th book. In this book we see a much greater development towards dramatic representation. In a way, this book is divisible into two Scenes with a number of single items in between. The vocal lines are all much more complex and we can also see the beginnings of monodic writing appear in the semi-recit sections of some of the songs.

Also clearly developing are delineations of the voices into soloists and chorus. Several songs in this book are almost akin to arias, with clear soloistic writing for the higher voices (Cantus/Tenor).

The first four songs form a kind of introductory scena, which Monteverdi calls "Lamento d'Arianna". The first of these is "Lasciatemi morire" which translates as "Let me die" or, perhaps, "Leave me to die". There is almost a conversation between two groups of voices, with the tenor leading one group and the Cantus leading the other.

As with all things madrigalian, the lyrics are rife with double entendres. Monteverdi uses some very close dissonances to describe death and release.