Composer

:

Carlo Gesualdo

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Madrigal

Compose Date

:

1611

Average_duration

:

3:04

"Itene, o miei sospiri" is a madrigal composed by Carlo Gesualdo, an Italian composer of the late Renaissance period. The piece was composed in the late 16th century, around 1594, and is part of his sixth book of madrigals. The piece premiered in Naples, where Gesualdo was living at the time. The madrigal is written for five voices, with two sopranos, alto, tenor, and bass. It is divided into two sections, with the first section being in a minor key and the second section in a major key. The piece is characterized by Gesualdo's use of chromaticism, which was a hallmark of his style. The chromaticism creates a sense of tension and dissonance, which is then resolved in the major key section. The text of the madrigal is a lamentation of the speaker's lost love. The speaker implores his sighs to go and find his love, but then realizes that his love is lost forever. The text is typical of the madrigal genre, which often dealt with themes of love and loss. Overall, "Itene, o miei sospiri" is a prime example of Gesualdo's unique style, which was characterized by his use of chromaticism and his exploration of dissonance and tension. The piece is a testament to Gesualdo's skill as a composer and his ability to create music that was both emotionally powerful and technically complex.

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