Composer

:

Carlo Gesualdo

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1594

Average_duration

:

5:14

Sento che nel partire, W. 2/37 is a madrigal composed by Carlo Gesualdo, an Italian composer and nobleman of the late Renaissance period. The piece was composed in the late 16th century, around 1594, and was premiered in Gesualdo's court in Naples. The madrigal is written for five voices, with the text taken from a poem by the Italian poet Torquato Tasso. The piece is divided into three movements, with each movement exploring a different aspect of the text. The first movement begins with a mournful and melancholic tone, with the voices singing in unison to express the sadness of parting. The second movement is more lively and energetic, with the voices intertwining and overlapping to create a sense of urgency and excitement. The final movement returns to the mournful tone of the first, with the voices singing in harmony to express the pain of separation. One of the most striking characteristics of Sento che nel partire is Gesualdo's use of chromaticism. The piece is filled with unexpected and jarring harmonic shifts, with the voices often moving in opposite directions to create a dissonant and unsettling effect. This use of chromaticism was highly unusual for the time, and has led many to consider Gesualdo a precursor to the Baroque period. Overall, Sento che nel partire is a powerful and emotional piece of music that showcases Gesualdo's unique compositional style. Its use of chromaticism and unconventional harmonies make it a fascinating example of late Renaissance music, and a testament to Gesualdo's innovative spirit.

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