Composer

:

Agostino Steffani

Genre

:

Vocal

Average_duration

:

7:37

Agostino Steffani was an Italian composer, diplomat, and bishop who lived from 1654 to 1728. He was a prolific composer of operas, chamber music, and vocal music, and his works were highly regarded in his time. One of his most famous works is the chamber duet "Gelosia, che vuoi da me?". The duet was composed in the late 17th century and was likely premiered in one of the many courts where Steffani worked as a diplomat and musician. The duet is written for two voices and continuo, and it consists of two movements. The first movement is a lively and playful aria in which the two voices engage in a dialogue about jealousy. The soprano voice sings the opening lines, "Gelosia, che vuoi da me? / Che mi fai languir così?" ("Jealousy, what do you want from me? / Why do you make me suffer so?"), and the alto voice responds with a series of questions and exclamations. The two voices then come together in a duet section in which they sing in unison and harmony. The second movement is a slower and more introspective aria in which the soprano voice expresses her longing for her lover. The alto voice responds with a series of sighs and lamentations, and the two voices come together in a final duet section in which they sing in harmony. The duet is characterized by its lively and playful melodies, its use of dialogue between the two voices, and its expressive use of harmony and counterpoint. It is a prime example of the chamber music of the late Baroque period, and it remains a popular work in the repertoire of vocal duets.

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