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Sfogava con le stelle

Fourth Book of Madrigals · No. 4

Claudio Monteverdi · 1603 · D minor · 71 bars · 107 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: D minor, F major, C major, G minor.