Monteverdi

This book, originally published in Italian, is a leading study of the greatest composer of late Renaissance and early Baroque Italy.

Paolo Fabbri (Author), Tim Carter (Translated by)

9780521351331, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 June 1994

368 pages, 12 b/w illus.
23.6 x 15.8 x 3.6 cm, 0.665 kg

'Highly original biography … an invaluable guide.' Classical Music

This book, originally published in Italian, is a leading biographical study of the greatest composer of late Renaissance and early Baroque Italy. Monteverdi's contribution to secular, sacred and theatrical music in the period was unparalleled: his madrigals, church music and operas remain very much alive today. A large number of contemporary documents, including some 130 of his own letters, offer rich insights into the composer and his times, also illuminating the many and varied contexts for music making in the most important musical centres in Italy. Fabbri uses these documents and other sources to present a rich narrative focusing on a composer who has perhaps rightly been called the 'father of modern music'. This translation brings an indispensable text to a much broader readership, providing a vivid picture of a fascinating period in music history.

Foreword
Preface
Notes on Monteverdi's texts
Introduction
Part I. Cremona: 1. Birth, family, surroundings
2. The Sacrae cantiunculae tribus vocibus (1582)
3. The Madrigali spirituali a quattro voci (1583)
4. The Canzonette a tre voci (1584)
5.The Madrigali a cinque voci … Libro primo (1587)
6. Il secondo libro de madrigali a cinque voci (1590)
Part II. Mantua: 7. Mantua
8. Il terzo libro de madrigali a cinque voci (1592)
9. 1594–1599
10. The dispute over the 'seconda pratica'
11. 1601–1604
12. Il quarto libro de madrigali a cinque voci (1603)
13. Il quinto libro de madrigali a cinque voci (1605)
14. 1605–1607
15. Orfeo (1607)
16. The Scherzi musicali a tre voci (1607)
17. The summer of 1607 and the death of Claudia Cattaneo Monteverdi
18. The 1608 festivities: Arianna, the prologue for L'Idropica, the Ballo delle ingrate
19. 1608–1609
20. The 'Mass and Vespers of the Blessed Virgin' (1610)
21. 1610–1613: the death of Vincenzo I Gonzaga, Monteverdi's dismissal from Mantua, his move to Venice
Part III. Venice: 22. Venice
23. Il sesto libro de madrigali a cinque voci (1614)
24. 1614–1619 25. Concerto: settimo libro de madrigali (1619)
26. 1619–1624
27. The Combattimento di Tancredi et Clorinda (1624)
28. 1624–1627
29. Festivities in Parma, 1628
30. 1628–1632
31. The Scherzi musicali (1632)
32. 1633–1638
33. The Madrigali guerrieri, et amorosi … Libro ottavo (1638)
34. The Selva morale e spirituale (1640–1641)
35. Opera in Venice
36. Il ritorno di Ulisse in patria (1640)
37. 1641–1642
38. La coronatione di Poppea (1643)
39. 1643: Monteverdi's death
40. The posthumous publications
Notes
Works cited
Index of Monteverdi's works
Index of names.

Subject Areas: Individual composers & musicians, specific bands & groups [AVH]