Composer Of The Week 3 - Claudio Monteverdi Options

[nicki_flute]

(IMG:http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/monteverdi.jpg)

The boring blurb copied from the other thread:

Do you know anything about him? Please post below.

I am especially interested in:
- Era he composed in
- Styles he wrote in
- Names of famous pieces
- How to recognise some Tallis music if I heard it
- His birth/death dates
- Any other significant dates during his life
- Was he early/middle/late of the era?

Note, I do not want a huge biography. I have to be remember these, so I need short, sharp facts. I don't need to know what his pet dog was called or how he liked his hair biggrin.gif laugh.gif

So, on your marks, get set, GO

[petrat]

Monteverdi had the good fortune to have been born in Cremona and became a chorister at the cathedral there. He was employed by the Duke of Mantua and was loyal to him, but accepted the post of Maestro di Capella at St Marks Venice after the Duke's death. He is accepted the first of the great opera composers although Caccini wrote some jolly good stuff too, and also wrote eight books of madrigals.

[Oddball]

I have a book on Monteverdi. Anything in detail you want to know, give us a shout!

[anacrusis]

I love Monteverdi's music!
The first time I heard some, I noticed that there were lots of final ornaments which appeared to be several repetitions of the same note, getting faster as in a baroque trill, but the same note, not two different ones. It may be more a feature of his era than of Monteverdi in particular, but when I hear that ornamental pattern, I always think of Monteverdi first.
However, as always, the best thing is to listen to some yourself, and see what strikes you. Anyone for some Vespers? Or some amatory madrigals? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[jonscott14]

His main genres were Opera, Madrigals, (usually secular, for many voices) and motets.
Born: Cremona, Italy 1567
Died: Venice, 1643
A level music sylabusses class him as Rennaissiance composer, whilst some people regard him as a baroque composer.

[chocolatedog]

His vespers are superb......studied him at uni - loved his music. He wrote a lot for St Marks Venice, which had various balconies and galleries, so he often used 2 sets of instruments and 2 choirs to get a type of 'surround sound' effect and they would echo each other and answer each other from different places in the basilica.

[petrat]

I love Monteverdi's music!
The first time I heard some, I noticed that there were lots of final ornaments which appeared to be several repetitions of the same note, getting faster as in a baroque trill, but the same note, not two different ones. It may be more a feature of his era than of Monteverdi in particular, but when I hear that ornamental pattern, I always think of Monteverdi first.

The feature that you describe is called a trillo caprino which translates as a goat's trill. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) It was used well before Monteverdi's time, but died out. Can't think why? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[nicki_flute]

Ooooh, thanks everyone! Currently creating playlists of Tallis's and Byrd's music, and Monteverdi sounds very interesting.

Maybe at the end of this, I could create a summary diagram: composers, dates, main works, and main genres? Then someone could kindly host it, and it could be a forum resource?

[Deborah]

His vespers are superb......studied him at uni - loved his music. He wrote a lot for St Marks Venice, which had various balconies and galleries, so he often used 2 sets of instruments and 2 choirs to get a type of 'surround sound' effect and they would echo each other and answer each other from different places in the basilica.

Antiphony (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I've been to St Mark's Venice - it's a very impressive place, and I could really imagine performances of the 1610 Vespers there (Vespers written in 1610, that is, rather than written at, or to be performed just after, teatime).

The madrigals (eight books of 'em) and motets (Beatus Vir is a good place to start) are well worth a listen, but Monteverdi is also remembered for his operas. They're amongst the first written, and virtually the earliest surviving. The first of them is L'Orfeo; others include Il ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria and L'incoronazione di Poppea. Odd to think that although people had been singing and acting for centuries before, no-one had thought of combining the two to create opera.

His remains are buried in one of Venice's many churches (sorry, can't remember which one).

[maggiemay]

I think there was some Monteverdi on last Wednesday's choral evensong (radio 3 4pm). I will check, and if I'm correct you can listen online.

yes - here's the playlist ---
16:00
Choral Evensong
Live from Canterbury Cathedral
For All Saints' Day, live from Canterbury Cathedral.

Introit: Gaudent in coelis (Phillips)
Responses: Lloyd
Psalms: 148, 150 (Cutler, Marshall)
First Lesson: Isaiah 65 vv17-25
Office Hymn: Placare Christe servulis (plainsong)
Canticles: Howells in G
Second Lesson: Hebrews 11v32-12v2
Anthem: Beatus vir (Monteverdi)
Final Hymn: For all the saints (Sine nomine)
Organ Voluntary: Pièce Solennelle (Jacques Ibert)

Organist and Master of the Choristers: David Flood
Assistant Organist: Robert Patterson

If you go to the radio 3 homepage you can listen again - try programmes on demand. The anthem is generally at least 30 mins (often 40) into the programme.

[Deborah]

Yes, there was - Beatus Vir (along with a scrummy Howells setting of the Canticles). It'll be available as part of Listen Again until Wednesday.

[petrat]

The madrigals (eight books of 'em) and motets (Beatus Vir is a good place to start) are well worth a listen, but Monteverdi is also remembered for his operas. They're amongst the first written, and virtually the earliest surviving. The first of them is L'Orfeo; others include Il ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria and L'incoronazione di Poppea. Odd to think that although people had been singing and acting for centuries before, no-one had thought of combining the two to create opera.

Beatus Vir is absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for reminding me. I shall dig out my copy today.
Actually the practice of combining music and acting was not a new idea of course and the early miracle and mystery plays of the Middle Ages used a combination of the two. What was new was the fact that there would be no spoken dialogue at all in Opera. They used recitative to carry the story along. It was the Camerata of Florence who developed the form, trying to recreate Greek drama. This group of intellectuals is often mocked in the history books, and certainly was by my school music teacher many years ago. In fact they produced some fabulous music and paved the path for Monteverdi.

[maggiemay]

(comment to Deborah!) Yes - Howells is pretty yummy - this was Howells in G, perhaps the one I know least well. We do Collegium Regale and St Paul's service - I get to sing this stuff all the time - aren't I lucky! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)
Sorry Nicki - little wax lyrical there, back to main topic (you could always do Howells later as one of your composers of the week!)

[petrat]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Do you need any more on Monteverdi or are you ready to pick a new composer yet? I really enjoy these threads. They make me dig deep into my music and CD collection to rediscover old "freinds"

[janetmaryparker]

He wrote lots of very holy, religious stuff.............and then an amazing amount of quite raunchy stuff too!

The choir I sing in is currently learning Svogava can le stelle - all very passionate stuff!!!

Hi stuff is great to sing - every voice gets a turn to do smething interesting, so its not just the sopranos who get the melody line.

Try naxos if you want to listen to snippets of his music.