Claudio Monteverdi

Aliases: Claudio Monteverde

Baptised: [[15 May 1567

Died: 29 November 1643]]

Monteverdi's compositional career spans sixty years from the end of the Renaissance to the early Baroque: like Beethoven two centuries later he was the major transitional figure between two distinct musical eras.

He was the first composer to realise the potential of opera for expressing powerful emotions, and he brought to his church music the musical innovations of his madrigal and instrumental style that he continued to refine throughout his lifetime.

L E G E N D

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Monteverdi's works are sorted below by genre: there are also lists of Monteverdi's works sorted in alphabetical order, or by publication order. You may also wish to see which pages on ChoralWiki link to this page.

Dramatic works

• L'Orfeo, favola in musica, opera (prologue, 5 acts), produced Feb. 1607, pub. 1609, 1615 (   )
• De la Bellezza le dovute lodi, ballet, 3vv+instr, pub. in Scherzi musicali, 1607 (  )
• L'Arianna, opera, 1608 – lost, aside from lament:

• Lamento d'Arianna, 1v, bc, pub. 1623 (   )

• Il ballo delle ingrate, ballet, 4vv, 1608, pub. 1638 (  )
• Prologue to L'Idropica, comedy with music, 1608 – lost
• Tirsi e Clori, ballet, 1616 ( Finale-2005 )
• Le nozze di Tetide, favola marittima, 1616 – work begun and abandoned, lost
• Andromeda, opera, 1618–20 – lost
• Apollo, dramatic cantata – lost
• Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, dramatic scena, 3vv, 2vl, va, vc, hpd, 1624, pub. 1638 (   Capella )
• La finta pazza Licori, 1627 – lost
• Gli amori di Diana e di Endimione, 1628 – lost
• Mercurio e Marte, torneo, 1628 – lost
• Proserpina rapita, opera, 1630 – lost, aside from trio:

• Come dolce oggi, 3vv, pub. 1651 (  )

• Volgendo il ciel, ballet, ca 1636, pub. 1638 (   Capella )
• Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria, opera, 1640
• Le nozze d'Enea con Lavinia, opera, 1641 – lost
• La vittoria d'Amore, ballet, 1641 – lost
• L'incoronazione di Poppea, opera, 1642

• Amici e giunta l'ora, 1v, 3vv, bc ( Finale-2005 )
• Pur ti miro, 2vv, bc ( Finale-2005 )

Secular works

Score listing includes number of voices, instruments, and publication date (if known).

• Ahi, com'a un vago sol cortese giro, 5vv, 1605 (  )
• Ah dolente partita, 5vv, 1603 (   Finale-1998 )
• Alcun non mi consigli, 3vv, 1651 (  )
• Altri canti d'Amor, tenero arciero, 6vv, 2vl, 4vla, 1638 (   Capella )
• Altri canti di Marte, 6vv, 2vl, 1638 (   MusiXTeX )
• Ardo e scoprir, ahi lasso, io non ardisco, 2vv, 1638 (   Capella )
• Ardo, avvampo, mi struggo, ardo: accorrete, 8vv, 2vl, 1638 (   Capella )
• Armato i cor d'adamantina fede, 2vv, 1638 (  )
• Balletto de la Bellezza le dovute lodi – see above, Dramatic works
• Ballo delle Ingrate – see above, Dramatic works
• Canzonette d'amore, 3vv, 1584 (   )
• Che se tu se'il cor mio, 5vv, 1603 (   Finale-2003 )
• Chi vol che m'innamori, 3vv, 1641 (   MusiXTeX )
• Chi vol haver felice e lieto il core, 5vv, 1638 (   Capella )
• Chi vuol veder d'inverno un dolce aprile, 3vv, 1584 (   )
• Chiome d'oro, 2vv, 2vl, chit/hpd, 1619 (   Sibelius 2 )
• Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda – see above, Dramatic works
• Come farò, cuor mio? 3vv, 1584 (   Sibelius 2 )
• Con che soavità, 1vv, str, lutes, hpd, 1619 (   Sibelius 2 )
• Cruda Amarilli, 5vv, 1605 (  Sibelius )
• Darà la notte il sol, 5vv, 1614 (   )
• Deh, bella e cara, 5vv, 1605 (  )
• Ditelo, o fiumi e voi ch'udiste, 5vv, 1614 (   )
• Dolcissimo uscignolo, 5vv, 1638 (   Capella )
• Dorinda, ah dirò mia, se mia non sei, 5vv, 1605 (  )
• Dunque amate reliquie, 5vv, 1614 (   )
• Ecco mormorar l'onde, 5vv, 1590 – 5 editions available
• Ecco, piegando le ginocchie a terra, 5vv, 1605 (  )
• Ecco, Silvio, colei ch'in odio hai tanto, 5vv, 1605 (  )
• Eccomi pronta ai baci, 3vv, 1619 (  )
• Era l'anima mia già presso a l'ultim' hore, 5vv, 1605 (  )
• Eri già tutta mia, 1vv, 1632 (  )
• Ferir quel petto, Silvio, 5vv, 1605 (  )
• Gira il nemico insidioso Amore, 3vv, 1638 (   MusiXTeX )
• Hor che'l ciel e la terra, 6vv, 2vl, 1638 (   Finale-2000 )
• I bei legami, 3instr, 3vv, bc (   )
• Il mio martir, 3vv, 1584 – 5 editions available
• Io mi son giovinetta, 5vv, 1603 (  )
• Incenerite spoglie, avara tomba, 5vv, 1614 (   )
• La fiera vista, 3vv, 1584 (   )
• Lamento d'Arianna – see above, Dramatic works
• Lamento della ninfa, 1–4vv, 1638 – 2 editions available
• Lasciatemi morire, 5vv, 1614 – 3 editions available; also see Lamento d'Arianna, under Dramatic works
• L'Orfeo, Favola in Musica – see above, Dramatic works
• Ma te raccoglie, o ninfa, 5vv, 1614 (   )
• Ma tu più che mai dura, 5vv, 1605 (  )
• Maledetto sia l'aspetto, 1v, 1632 (  )
• Mentre vaga angioletta, 2vv, 1638 (   Capella )
• Ninfa che, scalza il piede e sciolto il crine, 1–3vv, 1638 (   Capella )
• Non partir, ritrosetta, 3vv, 1638 (   Capella )
• O chiome d'or, neve gentil del seno, 5vv, 1614 (   )
• O primavera, gioventù de l'anno, 5vv, 1592 (   Sibelius 2 )
• O sia tranquillo il mare o pien d'orgoglio, 2vv, 1638 (   Capella )
• Ogni amante è guerrier, 2–3vv, 1638 (   Capella )
• Perchè t'en fuggi, o Fillide? 3vv, 1638 (   Capella )
• Qual si può dir maggiore, 3vv, 1584 (   )
• Quando sperai del mio servir mercede, 3vv, 1584 (   )
• Quel augellin che canta, 5vv, 1603 (  )
• Quel sguardo sdegnosetto, 1vv, 1632 (   Finale-2004 )
• Raggi, dov'è il mio bene?, 3vv, 1584 – 2 editions available
• Se vittorie sì belle, 2vv, 1638 (   Capella )
• Sfogava con le stelle un infermo d'amore, 5vv, 1603 (   )
• Sì ch'io vorrei morire, 5vv, 1603 – 3 editions available
• Sì come crescon alla terra i fiori, 3vv, 1584 – 3 editions available
• Sì dolce è'l tormento, 1vv, 1624 (   Finale-2003 )
• Son questi i crespi crini, 3vv, 1584 – 6 editions available
• Sovra tenere herbette e bianchi fiori, 5vv, 1592 (   Sibelius 2 )
• Su, su, su che'l giorno è fore, 3vv, 1584 (   )
• Su, su, su pastorelli vezzosi, 3vv, 1638 – 2 editions available
• T'amo mia vita, 5vv, 1605 (  )
• Tempro la cetra, 1vv, str, 1619 (   Sibelius 2 )
• Tirsi e Clori – see above, Dramatic works
• Troppo ben può questo tiranno amore, 5vv, 1605 (  )
• Tu dormi? Ah crudo core, 4vv, 1619 (  )
• Tu ridi sempre mai, 3vv, 1584 (   )
• Vago augelletto che cantando vai, 6–7vv, 2vl, db, 1638 (   Capella )
• Volgendo il ciel per l'immortal sentiero – see above, Dramatic works
• Zefiro torna e di soavi accenti, 2vv, bc, 1651 (  )

Sacred works

Score listing includes number of voices, instruments, and publication date (if known).

• Adoramus te, Christe, 6vv, 1620 (   Finale-2000 )
• Ave Maria, gratia plena, 3vv, 1582 – 4 editions available
• Ave maris stella, 2v, choir 8vv, 5instr, bc, 1610 (   Finale-2000 )
• Beatus vir, 6vv, 2vl, 3vla/trb, org, 1641 (   Sibelius 2 )
• Cantate Domino, 6vv, 1620 (   Sibelius 2 )
• Christe, adoramus te, 5vv, 1620 (   Encore )
• Dixit Dominus, 6vv, 6instr, 1610 – 2 editions available
• Domine ad adiuvandum, 6vv, 2cornetts, 3trb, 2vl, 4vla, bc, 1610 – 3 editions available
• Domine ne in furore tuo, 6vv, 1620 (  )
• Duo Seraphim clamabant, 3vv, bc, 1610 (  Sibelius )
• Felle amaro (= Cruda Amarilli), 5vv, 1607 (  )
• Gloria, 7vv, 2vl, 4vla/trb, bc, 1641 (   Finale-2000 )
• Gloria tua (= T'amo mia vita), 5vv, 1607 (  )
• Lauda Jerusalem Dominum, 5vv, 1650 (  )
• Lauda Jerusalem, Dominum, 7vv, org, 1610 – 2 editions available
• Lauda, Sion, Salvatorem, 3vv, 1582 (   Encore )
• Laudate Dominum omnes gentes I, 6vv, 1641 (   Noteworthy )
• Lætatus sum, 6vv, 2vl, 2trb, bsn, bc, 1650 ( Sibelius 2 )
• Laudate Dominum omnes gentes II, 8vv, 2vl, bc, 1641 (  )
• Laudate pueri Dominum, 5vv, 1650 (   Finale-2003 )
• Litaniae della Beata Vergine, 6vv, 1650 – 2 editions available
• Magnificat, 7vv, 2fl, 2rec, 3cornetts, 2trb, 2vl, vla, bc, 1610 (  )
• Maria quid ploras (= Dorinda, ah dirò mia), 5vv, 1607 (  )
• Messa da Cappella, 4vv, 1641 (   )
• Nigra sum, 1v, bc, 1610 (  )
• Nisi Dominus, 10vv, org, 1610 (   Finale-2000 )
• O Jesu mea vita (= Si ch'io vorrei morire), 5vv, 1609 (   Sibelius 2 )
• Pulchra es, amica mea, 2v, bc, 1610 (  )
• Pulchræ sunt (= Ferir quel petto, Silvio), 5vv, 1607 (  )
• Qui pependit (= Ecco, Silvio, colei), 5vv, 1607 (  )
• Sancta Maria (= Deh, bella e cara), 5vv, 1607 (  )
• Sonata sopra Sancta Maria ora pro nobis, 1v, 2cornetts, 3trb, 2vl, 2vla, bc, 1610 (   Sibelius 2 )
• Spernit Deus (= Ma tu più che mai dura), 5vv, 1607 (  )
• Stabat Virgo (= Era l'anima mia), 5vv, 1607 (  )
• Surgens Jesu, 3vv, 1582 (   Sibelius 2 )
• Te Jesu Christe (= Ecco, piegando), 5vv, 1607 (  )
• Ubi duo vel tres congregati fuerint, 3vv, 1582 – 2 editions available
• Ure me (= Troppo ben può), 5vv, 1607 (  )
• Vespro della Beata Vergine, 1610

• Domine ad adiuvandum, 6vv, 2cornetts, 3trb, 2vl, 4vla, bc – 3 editions available
• Dixit Dominus, 6vv, 6instr – 2 editions available
• Nigra sum, 1v, bc (  )
• Pulchra es, amica mea, 2v, bc (  )
• Nisi Dominus, 10vv, org (   Finale-2000 )
• Lauda Jerusalem, Dominum, 7vv, org – 2 editions available
• Sonata sopra Sancta Maria ora pro nobis, 1v, 2cornetts, 3trb, 2vl, 2vla, bc (   Sibelius 2 )
• Ave maris stella, 2v, choir 8vv, 5instr, bc (   Finale-2000 )
• Magnificat, 7vv, 2fl, 2rec, 3cornetts, 2trb, 2vl, vla, bc (  )

• Vives in corde (= Ahi, com'a un vago sol), 5vv, 1607 (  )

Main publications

Opera

• L'Orfeo, Favola in Musica (Venice, 1609, 1615)
• Lamento d'Arianna, only surviving excerpt from L'Arianna (Venice, 1623)

Other dramatic works published in Scherzi musicali (1607), Madrigali guerreri et amorosi (1638), and Madrigali e canzonette (1651) below.
Secular vocal

• Canzonette a tre voci (Venice, 1584)
• Il primo libro de madrigali a cinque voci (Venice, 1587)
• Il secondo libro de madrigali a cinque voci (Venice, 1590)
• Il terzo libro de madrigali a cinque voci (Venice, 1592)
• Il quarto libro de madrigali a cinque voci (Venice, 1603)
• Il quinto libro de madrigali a cinque voci (Venice, 1605)
• Scherzi musicali di Claudio Monteverdi (Venice, 1607)
• Il sesto libro de madrigali a cinque voci con uno dialogo (Venice, 1614)
• Concerto: settimo libro de madrigali (Venice, 1619)
• Scherzi musicali cioè arie et madrigali (Venice, 1632)
• Madrigali guerrieri et amorosi... (Venice, 1638)
• Madrigali e canzonette libro nono (Venice, 1651)

Sacred vocal

• Sacræ cantiunculæ... liber primus, 3vv (Venice, 1582)
• Madrigali spirituali a quattro voci (Brescia, 1584)
• Musica tolta da i madrigali (Milan, 1607; 24 madrigal contrafacta with sacred texts, 11 by Monteverdi)
• Il secondo libro della musica... (Milan 1608; 8 madrigal contrafacta with sacred texts)
• Il terzo libro della musica... (Milan 1609; 19 madrigal contrafacta with sacred texts)
• Sanctissimæ Virgini Missa senis vocibus... ac Vesperæ pluribus decantandæ (Venice, 1610)
• Selva morale e spirituale (Venice, 1641)
• Messa a quattro voci, et salmi, concertati (Venice, 1650)

Life

Claudio (Giovanni Antonio) Monteverdi was born in Cremona in 1567, and baptised – probably at an age of several days – on the 15th of May. Monteverdi's father Baldassare was a chemist and also practiced medicine; his mother Maddalena (née Zignani) died young, and Baldassare married twice more. Claudio had one elder sister, a younger brother Giulio Cesare who also pursued a musical career, and three more half-siblings from his father's second marriage. Both Claudio and Giulio Cesare received a good musical education from Marc'Antonio Ingegneri, who was maestro di capella of Cremona Cathedral, and whom Monteverdi would acknowledge as his teacher on the title page of his first book of madrigals. Claudio was clearly a precociously gifted boy, at the age of 15 sending a collection of three-part motets to be published in Venice by the printing house of Gardane, and following these with two further publications before he reached the age of 18, the latter of which, the volume of three-part canzonets, was published by Ricciardo Amadino, whose printing firm would go on to publish nearly all of Monteverdi's subsequent work.

By the time Monteverdi was ready to publish his second book of five-part madrigals, he had evidently outstripped his teacher and was looking for a musical posting outside Cremona; he visited Milan to obtain patronage, and within three years he was in full-time employment as a violinist or gamba player at the court of the Gonzaga family in Mantua. The third book of madrigals that was published soon after show the influence of the Mantuan maestro di capella, Giaches de Wert, but Monteverdi's fame quickly spread and he became one of the leading court musicians. After the death of de Wert in 1596 he was succeeded by a more senior musician, Pallavicino, but upon his death in 1601 came Monteverdi's opportunity as musical director of the Mantuan court. In the meantime, Monteverdi had married one of the court singers, Claudia de Cattaneis, on 20 May 1599, who would bear him three children; Francesco (1601–?1677/78), Leonora (1603), and Massimiliano (1604–61).

In 1600 Monteverdi was the subject of an attack by the musical theorist Artusi, who criticised certain of Monteverdi's harmonic practices and his modern style of word-painting, concerning works which were yet to appear in print but must have been circulating in manuscript. In 1603 and 1605 Monteverdi published the fourth and fifth books of madrigals, including much of the secular music he had worked on in the previous decade at Mantua that had attracted the ire of Artusi. The fifth book includes a brief reply to the criticism, which was amplified two years later by Monteverdi's younger brother Giulio Cesare in the introduction to the Scherzi musicali of 1607; this only served to further popularise Monteverdi's music and enhance his fame.

[to be continued...]

View the Wikipedia article on Claudio Monteverdi.

External links

Monteverdi: List of Works