Pieces › Claudio Monteverdi

Si, Ch'io Vorrei Morire

Fourth Book of Madrigals · No. 16

Claudio Monteverdi · 1603 · C major · 84 bars · 166 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: C major, A major, D minor, A minor.