Composer

:

Carlo Gesualdo

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1611

Average_duration

:

3:27

'Mille volte il dí moro' 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 1590, and is part of Gesualdo's sixth book of madrigals. The piece is written for five voices, with the text taken from the poetry of Petrarch. The madrigal is in three movements, with each movement exploring a different aspect of the text. The first movement is slow and mournful, with the voices singing in a homophonic texture. The second movement is faster and more lively, with the voices weaving in and out of each other in a complex polyphonic texture. The final movement returns to the slow, mournful character of the first movement, with the voices singing in a more complex and dissonant harmony. One of the most striking characteristics of 'Mille volte il dí moro' is Gesualdo's use of chromaticism and dissonance. The piece is full of unexpected harmonic twists and turns, with Gesualdo using dissonant chords and unusual voice leading to create a sense of tension and unease. This use of chromaticism and dissonance was highly unusual for the time, and has led many to consider Gesualdo as a precursor to the Baroque period. Another characteristic of the piece is Gesualdo's use of word painting. Throughout the madrigal, Gesualdo uses musical gestures to reflect the meaning of the text. For example, in the second movement, the voices sing the word "vivo" (alive) with a lively, energetic melody, while the word "piango" (I weep) is sung with a descending, mournful melody. 'Mille volte il dí moro' premiered in Gesualdo's own court in Naples, and was likely performed by a group of professional singers. The piece was highly regarded by Gesualdo's contemporaries, and has continued to be admired by musicians and scholars to this day.

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