Who Is Monteverdi?

Claudio Monteverdi was born (1567¬¬¬¬¬-1643) in Cremona (northern Italy) , and baptized on May 15, 1567; which is relevant, later influencing his career as maestro di cappella (director of music) at the Basilica of San Marco in Venice. Monteverdi was known as the most diverse composer of the Renaissance and Baroque era, because of his mastery in the prima Prattica and Seconda Prattica. Prima Prattica (first practice) refers to the early baroque music of two or more simultaneous voices with equal importance otherwise known as polyphony, and mostly viewed in the style of Palestrina, transitioning into and Seconda Prattica (second practice) a more soloist vocal practice style, virtuosic, and individualized form of music. Cruda Amarilli, one of many of Monteverdi’s composition, is

Cruda Amarilli was published in 1605, out of five books written by Monteverdi. Cruda Amarilli was sharply criticized by Artusi, another composer, for violating the rules of counterpoint composition. The stylistic form of Cruda Amarilli is of a madrigal, or in poetic form. It is written in five parts, and it has dissonances (clashing tonalities) creating tension in the piece. It also has repeating suspended tones and notes out of place in Artusi’s point of view. Monteverdi also wrote T’amo mia vita (I love you my life) published in 1605. T’amo mia vita is a concerto madrigal that depicts the love of our lives, or perhaps the love of Monteverdi’s life. The piece starts with a solo soprano, singing in a melodramatic “I love you my life”, which is a quoted memory later on,” my dearest life softly tells me; and with these such gentle words my life is joyfully transformed”. In my point of view, knowing Monteverdi’s back ground he might be talking about his own life, perhaps his Christian life, hence, “stamp it upon my breast so that I may breathe only for her, or could it be that music itself is the