Composer

:

Claudio Monteverdi

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Madrigal

Compose Date

:

ca. 1651

Average_duration

:

2:39

'Non voglio amare per non penare (from Book 9), SV 172' is a vocal piece composed by Claudio Monteverdi, an Italian composer of the Baroque era. The piece was composed in the early 1630s and was first performed in Venice in 1638. It is part of Monteverdi's collection of madrigals, 'Madrigali guerrieri et amorosi', which is divided into two books. 'Non voglio amare per non penare' is the ninth madrigal in the second book. The piece is written for five voices, with two sopranos, two tenors, and a bass. It is in the key of G minor and is in a triple meter. The piece is divided into two sections, with the first section being slower and more contemplative, while the second section is faster and more lively. The text of the piece is a poem by Giovanni Battista Guarini, an Italian poet of the Renaissance. The poem is about the fear of love and the pain that it can bring. The first section of the piece reflects this fear and pain, with the voices singing in a mournful and melancholic manner. The second section, however, is more upbeat and joyful, with the voices singing in a more lively and energetic manner. One of the characteristics of Monteverdi's music is his use of dissonance and chromaticism. This is evident in 'Non voglio amare per non penare', with the voices often singing in close harmony and with unexpected chord progressions. Monteverdi also uses word painting in the piece, with the music reflecting the meaning of the text. For example, in the first section, the voices sing in a descending pattern, reflecting the idea of falling in love and the pain that can come with it. Overall, 'Non voglio amare per non penare (from Book 9), SV 172' is a beautiful and expressive vocal piece that showcases Monteverdi's mastery of the madrigal form. Its use of dissonance, chromaticism, and word painting make it a unique and powerful work that continues to be performed and admired today.

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