Pieces › Claudio Monteverdi

Ah, Dolente Partita

Fourth Book of Madrigals · No. 1

Claudio Monteverdi · 1603 · A minor · 109 bars · 134 chords analysed

The Fourth Book (1603) opens with “Ah, dolente partita”, a lovers' farewell from Guarini's play Il pastor fido. Monteverdi sets the text so closely that sighs, pauses and sharp dissonances follow the meaning of each line.

Keys visited: A minor, D minor.