Composer

:

Jacques Arcadelt

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1539

Publication Date

:

1539

Average_duration

:

1:53

"Se la dura durezza in la mia donna" is a madrigal composed by Jacques Arcadelt, a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance era. The piece was composed in the mid-16th century and was first published in 1539 in the collection "Il primo libro di madrigali a quattro voci" (The First Book of Madrigals for Four Voices). The madrigal is in four parts and is written for four voices: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. The piece is in the key of G major and has a moderate tempo. The text of the madrigal is in Italian and is a love poem that describes the speaker's frustration with his lover's coldness and indifference. The piece is divided into three movements. The first movement is slow and expressive, with the voices singing in a homophonic texture. The second movement is faster and more lively, with the voices singing in a polyphonic texture. The third movement returns to the slower tempo of the first movement and features a more complex polyphonic texture. The characteristics of the piece reflect the style of the Renaissance era. The use of polyphonic textures and the careful attention to the text of the poem are typical of the madrigal form. The piece also features a clear harmonic structure, with the voices moving in parallel motion and resolving to the tonic at the end of each phrase. Overall, "Se la dura durezza in la mia donna" is a beautiful example of the madrigal form and showcases Arcadelt's skill as a composer. Its expressive melodies and complex harmonies make it a beloved piece of Renaissance music.

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