The Cambridge Companion to Monteverdi (Cambridge Companions to Music)

Claudio Monteverdi is one of the most important figures of 'early' music, a composer whose music speaks powerfully and directly to modern audiences. This book, first published in 2007, provides an authoritative treatment of Monteverdi and his music, complementing Paolo Fabbri's standard biography of the composer. Written by leading specialists in the field, it is aimed at students, performers and music-lovers in general and adds significantly to our understanding of Monteverdi's music, his life, and the contexts in which he worked. Chapters offering overviews of his output of sacred, secular and dramatic music are complemented by 'intermedi', in which contributors examine individual works, or sections of works in detail. The book draws extensively on Monteverdi's letters and includes a select discography/videography and a complete list of Monteverdi's works together with an index of first lines and titles. Claudio Monteverdi Is One Of The Most Important Figures Of 'early' Music, A Composer Whose Music Speaks Powerfully And Directly To Modern Audiences. This Book Provides An Up-to-date And Authoritative Treatment Of Monteverdi And His Music, Complementing Paolo Fabbri's Standard Biography Of The Composer. Written By Leading Specialists In The Field, It Is Aimed At Students, Performers And Music-lovers In General And Adds Significantly To Our Understanding Of Monteverdi's Music, His Life, And The Contexts In Which He Worked. Chapters Offering Overviews Of His Output Of Sacred, Secular And Dramatic Music Are Complemented By 'intermedi', In Which Contributors Examine Individual Works, Or Sections Of Works In Detail. The Book Draws Extensively On Monteverdi's Letters And Includes A Select Discography/videography And A Complete List Of Monteverdi's Works Together With An Index Of First Lines And Titles. Chronology -- Approaching Monteverdi : His Cultures And Ours / Anthony Pryer -- Musical Sources / Tim Carter -- A Model Musical Education : Monteverdi's Early Works -- Intermedio I: 'ecco Mormorar L'onde' (1590) / Geoffrey Chew -- Monteverdi At Mantua, 1590-1612 / Roger Bowers -- Spaces For Music In Late Renaissance Mantua / Paola Besutti -- The Mantuan Madrigals And Scherzi Musicali -- Intermedio I: 'ahi, Come A Un Vago Sol Cortese Giro' (1605) / Massimo Ossi -- Orfeo (1607) / Joachim Steinheuer -- The Mantuan Sacred Music -- Intermedio Iii: 'laetatus Sum' (1610) / Jeffrey Kurtzman -- Music In Monteverdi's Venice / Iain Fenlon -- The Venetian Secular Music -- Intermedio Iv: Lamento Della Ninfa (1638) / Tim Carter -- The Venetian Sacred Music / John Whenham -- Intermedio V: Magnificat Sv 281 (1641) / John Whenham -- Monteverdi's Late Operas / Ellen Rosand -- Intermedio Vi: Il Ritorno D'ulisse (1640), Act V, Scene 10 / Ellen Rosand -- Monteverdi Studies And 'new' Musicologies / Suzanne G. Cusick -- Monteverdi In Performance / Richard Wistreich. Edited By John Whenham And Richard Wistreich. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 280-338) And Index. Includes Discography. Preface Chronology 1. Approaching Monteverdi: his cultures and ours Anthony Pryer 2. Musical sources Tim Carter 3. A model musical education: Monteverdi's early works Geoffrey Chew Intermedio I: 'Ecco mormorar l'onde' (1590) Geoffrey Chew 4. Monteverdi at Mantua 1590-1612 Roger Bowers 5. Spaces for music in late Renaissance Mantua Paola Besutti 6. The Mantuan madrigals and Scherzi musicali Massimo Ossi Intermedio II: 'Ahi come a un vago sol cortese giro' (1605) Massimo Ossi 7. Orfeo (1607) Joachim Steinheuer 8. The Mantuan sacred music Jeffrey Kurtzman Intermedio III: 'Laetatus sum' (1610) Jeffrey Kurtzman 9. Music in Monteverdi's Venice Iain Fenlon 10. The Venetian secular music Tim Carter Intermedio IV: Lamento della Ninfa (1638) Tim Carter 11. The Venetian sacred music John Whenham Intermedio V: Magnificat SV281 (1641) John Whenham 12. Monteverdi's late operas Ellen Rosand Intermedio VI: Il ritorno d'Ulisse (1640), Act V, scene 10 Ellen Rosand 13. Monteverdi studies and 'new' musicologies Suzanne Cusick 14. Monteverdi in performance Richard Wistreich Bibliography Selected discography Richard Wistreich The works of Monteverdi: catalogue and index John Whenham Index of titles and first lines. "The present Companion, while centred on Monteverdi's music, seeks to place it in the context of the institutions for which Monteverdi worked and his intellectual, social and religious environment. It draws together many of the new strands of thought on the composer developed over the last twenty years ... Monteverdi's own letters form a constant source of reference in the essays of this book ..."--Preface.