Composer

:

John Dowland

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Lute Song

Compose Date

:

1612

Publication Date

:

1612

Average_duration

:

3:48

"Lasso vita mia, mi fa morire" is a famous madrigal composed by John Dowland, an English Renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer. The piece was composed in the late 16th century and was first published in 1597 in Dowland's collection of madrigals, "The First Booke of Songs or Ayres." The madrigal is written in the Italian language and is set for five voices. It is a melancholic piece that expresses the pain of unrequited love. The title translates to "Alas, my life, it makes me die," and the lyrics describe the speaker's longing for his beloved, who does not return his affections. The piece is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement is slow and mournful, with the voices singing in unison to express the speaker's despair. The second movement is more lively and features intricate polyphony, with the voices weaving in and out of each other to create a complex and beautiful texture. The final movement returns to the slow and mournful character of the first, with the voices singing in unison once again to express the speaker's final lament. One of the most notable characteristics of "Lasso vita mia, mi fa morire" is its use of chromaticism. Dowland employs chromaticism to create a sense of tension and longing in the music, as the voices move through a series of half-steps and dissonant intervals. This technique was highly innovative for its time and helped to establish Dowland as one of the most important composers of the Renaissance period. Overall, "Lasso vita mia, mi fa morire" is a beautiful and haunting piece of music that captures the essence of Renaissance melancholy. Its intricate polyphony, expressive chromaticism, and poignant lyrics have made it a beloved work of the Renaissance repertoire and a testament to Dowland's skill as a composer.

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