Composer

:

Claudio Monteverdi

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Motet

Compose Date

:

ca. 1640

Average_duration

:

4:43

È questa vita un lampo is a sacred vocal piece composed by Claudio Monteverdi. It is part of his Selva morale et spirituale, a collection of sacred music published in 1640. The piece is written for four voices (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) and is accompanied by a basso continuo. The premiere of Selva morale et spirituale is not known, but it is believed to have been performed in Venice, where Monteverdi spent most of his career. The collection consists of 37 pieces, including motets, psalms, and hymns, and is considered one of Monteverdi's most significant works. È questa vita un lampo is the 36th piece in the collection and is a setting of a text from the Book of Job. The piece is divided into two movements, with the first movement being a recitative and the second movement being an aria. The recitative is sung by the bass voice and sets the scene for the aria, which is sung by the soprano voice. The first movement is characterized by its declamatory style, with the bass voice delivering the text in a speech-like manner. The accompaniment is sparse, with the basso continuo providing a simple harmonic foundation. The second movement is more melodic, with the soprano voice singing a lyrical melody over a more complex basso continuo accompaniment. The text of È questa vita un lampo reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. The music captures the melancholic mood of the text, with the use of chromaticism and dissonance adding to the sense of unease. Overall, È questa vita un lampo is a poignant and reflective piece of sacred music that showcases Monteverdi's skill as a composer. Its inclusion in Selva morale et spirituale is a testament to the collection's importance in the history of sacred music.

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