Composer

:

Giacomo Carissimi

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1670

Average_duration

:

5:45

Giacomo Carissimi was an Italian composer of the Baroque era, known for his sacred music. One of his most famous works is "Exurge, cor meum, in cithara," a motet for five voices and continuo. The piece was composed in the mid-17th century, likely around 1650. It was first performed in Rome, where Carissimi was the maestro di cappella at the church of Sant'Apollinare. The motet is written in Latin and is based on Psalm 57, which begins with the words "Exurge, cor meum, in cithara, Deus meus" ("Awake, my soul, with the harp, O God"). "Exurge, cor meum, in cithara" is divided into three movements. The first movement is a lively and joyful setting of the opening words of the psalm. The second movement is more contemplative, with a slower tempo and more complex harmonies. The third movement returns to the joyful mood of the first, with a faster tempo and more elaborate vocal lines. One of the most striking characteristics of the piece is its use of chromaticism. Carissimi employs chromatic harmonies and melodic lines to create a sense of tension and release, particularly in the second movement. The piece also features frequent use of suspensions, where a note from a previous chord is held over into the next chord, creating a dissonance that is then resolved. Overall, "Exurge, cor meum, in cithara" is a masterful example of Baroque sacred music. Carissimi's use of chromaticism and suspensions adds depth and complexity to the piece, while the joyful and contemplative moods of the different movements reflect the text of the psalm.

More....