Composer

:

Alexander Goehr

Genre

:

Chamber

Average_duration

:

8:59

Alexander Goehr's "Paraphrase on the Dramatic Madrigal 'Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda' by Monteverdi" is a contemporary composition that premiered in 1986. The piece is a reimagining of Claudio Monteverdi's "Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda," a dramatic madrigal from the early Baroque period. Goehr's "Paraphrase" is divided into three movements, each of which corresponds to a different section of Monteverdi's original work. The first movement, "The Encounter," sets the stage for the battle between Tancredi and Clorinda. The music is tense and dramatic, with dissonant harmonies and jagged rhythms that reflect the conflict between the two characters. The second movement, "The Battle," is the centerpiece of the piece. It is a virtuosic tour-de-force for the solo violin, which represents Tancredi's sword. The violinist must navigate a series of complex and challenging passages that evoke the chaos and violence of the battle. The orchestra provides a backdrop of swirling, dissonant harmonies that heighten the sense of drama and tension. The final movement, "The Death of Clorinda," is a mournful elegy that reflects on the tragic outcome of the battle. The music is slow and somber, with long, sustained notes that convey a sense of loss and grief. The solo violin returns, this time playing a mournful melody that represents Clorinda's dying breath. Overall, Goehr's "Paraphrase" is a bold and innovative reimagining of Monteverdi's original work. It takes the themes and motifs of the original and transforms them into a contemporary idiom, creating a powerful and emotionally charged piece of music.

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