Composer

:

Carlo Gesualdo

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1594

Average_duration

:

3:28

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

'Non e questa la mano, W. 2/41' 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 1594, and was premiered in Gesualdo's own court in Naples. The madrigal is written for five voices, with the text taken from the poetry of Giovanni Battista Guarini. The piece is divided into three movements, with each movement exploring a different aspect of the text. The first movement begins with a slow and mournful introduction, with the voices singing in a homophonic texture. The text speaks of a hand that is not the one the speaker desires, and the music reflects this sense of longing and disappointment. The movement then shifts to a faster tempo, with the voices weaving in and out of each other in a complex polyphonic texture. The second movement is more lively and rhythmic, with the voices imitating each other in a playful and intricate manner. The text speaks of the speaker's desire to be with their beloved, and the music reflects this sense of joy and excitement. The final movement returns to the mournful tone of the first, with the voices singing in a homophonic texture once again. The text speaks of the speaker's despair at not being able to be with their beloved, and the music reflects this sense of sadness and resignation. Overall, 'Non e questa la mano, W. 2/41' is a complex and emotionally charged piece of music, showcasing Gesualdo's mastery of polyphonic and homophonic textures. The piece is a testament to Gesualdo's unique and innovative approach to composition, and remains a beloved work of the Renaissance period.

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