Composer

:

Carlo Gesualdo

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Motet

Compose Date

:

1603

Average_duration

:

2:47

Carlo Gesualdo's 'Exaudi Deus, deprecationem meam, W. 8/42' is a sacred motet composed in the late 16th century. The exact date of composition is unknown, but it is believed to have been written between 1594 and 1596. The piece was premiered in Gesualdo's private chapel in his castle in Gesualdo, Italy. The motet is written for five voices, with two sopranos, alto, tenor, and bass. It is divided into three movements, with the first and third movements being in triple meter and the second movement in duple meter. The text is taken from Psalm 61 and is a plea for God's mercy and protection. The first movement begins with a homophonic section in which all voices sing together, followed by a section in which the voices alternate in pairs. The second movement is more complex, with imitative polyphony and frequent changes in meter. The third movement returns to the homophonic texture of the first movement, with the voices singing together in a prayer for God's protection. Gesualdo's 'Exaudi Deus, deprecationem meam' is characteristic of his unique style, which is characterized by chromaticism, dissonance, and unexpected harmonic shifts. The piece is particularly notable for its use of dissonance, which was highly unusual for sacred music of the time. Gesualdo's use of dissonance was so extreme that it was often criticized by his contemporaries, who found it difficult to perform and unpleasant to listen to. Despite its challenging nature, 'Exaudi Deus, deprecationem meam' is considered one of Gesualdo's most beautiful and expressive works. Its emotional intensity and harmonic complexity make it a powerful example of the late Renaissance style.

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