A Conductor’s Guide to Selected Concerted Madrigals from Madrigals Book 8 (Madrigali Guerrieri et Amorosi) by Claudio Monteverdi A document submitted to the Division of Graduate Studies and Research of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in the Ensembles and Conducting Division of the College-Conservatory of Music October 31, 2011 by Glenda Crawford 274 Senator Place #10 Cincinnati, OH 45220
[email protected] B.Mus. Ed. University of Western Ontario, 1981 B.Ed. University of Western Ontario, 1983 M.M. University of Western Ontario, 1992 Committee Chair: Earl Rivers, DMA ABSTRACT The purpose of the document is to present a Conductor’s Guide to performing nine concerted madrigals from Book 8 Madrigali Guerrieri et Amorosi by Claudio Monteverdi suitable for choral ensemble. The nine madrigals are Altri canti d’Amor, tenero arciero; Cosi sol d’una chiara fonte viva; Altri canti di Marte e di sua schiera; and Due belli occhi fur l’armi onde traffitta; Hor che’l ciel e la terra e’l vento tace; Ardo, avvampo, mi struggo; Vago augelletto che cantando vai; Dolcissimo uscignolo; and Chi vol haver felice e lieto il core. The document is divided into four main chapters: Historical and General Information, General Performance Issues, Examination of Individual Madrigals, and Finishing Touches. Chapter One contains a literature review and biographical information on Monteverdi. Monteverdi’s harmonic language, including seconda prattica and stile concitato is discussed. The nature of Italian Renaissance poetry is presented. Chapter Two discusses performing issues that all nine madrigals share such as size of vocal ensemble, vocal ranges, and vocal tone.