Music from the 18th century. In today’s episode, you can listen to Carlo Gesualdo’s fourth book of madrigals in its entirety.
The fourth book of madrigals by Carlo Gesualdo was published in 1596, the last year of his stay in Ferrara. Together with the third book, the fourth book marks the transition from the first two books to the last two books. Even more than in the third book, the dark aspects of life are highlighted, including violence and death. The lyrics, which are anonymous except for two, are illustrated by Gesualdo using all kinds of rhetorical and harmonic means, such as unexpected pauses, large interval leaps, chromaticism and dissonances.
In contrast, a harpsichord piece by Gesualdo’s contemporary Ascanio Mayone, who was also working in Napels.
Carlo Gesualdo (1566-1613)
1. Luci serene, e chiare
2. Tal’hor sano desio
3. Io tacerò, ma nel silentio mio
4. Che fai meco, mio cor misero e solo
5. Questa crudele, e pia
6. Hor ch’in gioia credea viver contento
7. Cor mio, deh, non piangete
Les Arts Florissants conducted by Paul Agnew
(cd: “Madrigali, Libri Terzo & Quarto” – Harmonia mundi HAF 895309.10, 2021)
Ascanio Mayone (ca. 1565-1627)
8. Toccata V
Francesco Tasini, harpsichord
(cd: “Primo libro di diversi Capricci per sonate (Napoli, 1603)” – Tactus TC 571301, 2004)
Carlo Gesualdo
9. Sparge la morte al mio signor nel viso
10. Moro, e mentre sospiro
11. Mentre gira costei
12. A voi, mentre il mio core
13. Ecco, morirò dunque
14. Arde ‘l mio cor, ed è sì dolce il foco
15. Se chiudete nel core
16. Il sol, qual hor più splende
Les Arts Florissants conducted by Paul Agnew
(cd: zie 1-7)
addition:
Ascanio Mayone
17. Toccata IV
Francesco Tasini, harpsichord
(cd: zie 8)
Picture: Title page of the fourth madrigals books by Gesualdo
