Composer

:

Claudio Monteverdi

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Madrigal

Compose Date

:

ca. 1603

Average_duration

:

2:44

"Longe da te, cor mio, struggomi di dolore" is a madrigal composed by Claudio Monteverdi, which is part of his fourth book of madrigals. The piece was composed in the early 17th century, and it premiered in Venice in 1603. The madrigal is written for five voices, and it is divided into two sections. The first section is in a slow tempo, and it is characterized by a melancholic and mournful mood. The second section is faster, and it is marked by a more lively and energetic character. The text of the madrigal is a lament of a lover who is separated from his beloved. The opening line, "Longe da te, cor mio," which translates to "Far from you, my heart," sets the tone for the entire piece. The lover expresses his pain and suffering caused by the distance between him and his beloved. The text is full of vivid imagery, such as "I am consumed by the flames of love," and "I am like a ship tossed by the waves of the sea." The music of the madrigal is characterized by Monteverdi's use of dissonance and chromaticism. The dissonances are used to express the pain and suffering of the lover, while the chromaticism adds a sense of tension and instability to the music. The use of word painting is also prominent in the piece, with the music reflecting the meaning of the text. For example, the line "I am like a ship tossed by the waves of the sea" is accompanied by a rising and falling melody that mimics the motion of the waves. Overall, "Longe da te, cor mio, struggomi di dolore" is a powerful and emotional piece of music that showcases Monteverdi's mastery of the madrigal form. Its expressive text and innovative musical techniques make it a standout work in the history of Western classical music.

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