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Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation

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Citeable URL: https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/wd375x993

Abstract

" Lamento della ninfa" (Lament of the nymph) appeared in Claudio Monteverdi's eighth book of madrigals - Madrigali guerrieri et amorosi - in 163 8. The lament is considered one of Monteverdi's late masterpieces. This famous composition is not a madrigal in the conventional sense. Rather , it is a three-section dramatic work in the theatrical style. The composer's performance instructions appear in the original Basso Continua part book. A translation of these instructions appears below:

The way to perform the present vocal piece : the three voice parts to be sung before and after theLament of the Nymph have been kept separate because they are to be sung to the beaten time (qu ello de/a mano). The other three parts, which softly commiserate with the Nymph, have been printed in score, so that they can accompany her lament, which must be sung in time with the e motion s of the mind (ajfett o de f anim o) and not in time with the hand.

Monteverdi set the parts for sections one and three in part books: Tenore Primo, Tenore Sec ondo , and Basso Primo . The vocal parts for the second section, " Amor," appear in score form in the Basso Continua and Alto Primo part books . From the distribution of parts in these part books , it is likely that the trio accompanying the soloist was a separate group from those singing in the outer two sections of the piece. The distribution of parts into part books is outlined in the following table.

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