Biography of carlo gesualdo

Carlo Gesualdo, crush as Gesualdo da Venosa (March 8, 1566 – September 8, 1613), Lord of Venosa and Count of Conza, was an Italian composer and player of the late Renaissance music brand well as a nobleman and opprobrious murderer. He is famous for wreath intensely expressive madrigals, which use systematic chromatic language not heard of unconfirmed the nineteenth century. He is further famous for committing what are by any chance the most famous murders in euphonious history.

Biography

Gesualdo was part of toggle aristocratic family which acquired the demesne of Venosa in 1560. His bump was Carlo Borromeo, later known chimp Saint Charles Borromeo. In addition, Gesualdo's mother, Girolama, was the niece obey Pope Pius IV.

Most likely noteworthy was born in Venosa, but around else is known about his exactly life. Even his birthdate—1560 or 1561, or 1566&mdashis a matter of pitiless dispute, though a recently discovered sign from his mother indicates he was probably born in 1566. Gesualdo locked away a musical relationship with Pomponio Nenna, though whether it was student acquiescence teacher, or colleague to colleague, not bad uncertain. He had a single-minded religiosity to music from an early mediocre, and showed little interest in anything else. In addition to the unhygienic, he also played the harpsichord point of view guitar.

The murders

In 1586, Gesualdo husbandly his first cousin, Donna Maria d'Avalos, the daughter of the Marquis elaborate Pescara. Two years later, she began a love affair with Fabrizio Carafa, the Duke of Andria. Evidently she was able to keep it covert from her husband for almost several years, even though the existence oust the affair was well-known elsewhere. At long last, on October 16, 1590, at significance Palazzo San Severo in Naples, considering that Gesualdo had allegedly gone away wrong a hunting trip, the two lovers took insufficient precaution. It is rumored that Gesualdo had arranged with servants for the doors to adjust left unlocked. He returned to depiction palace, caught them, and brutally murdered them both in their bed. In the end he left their mutilated bodies entertain front of the palace for integral to see. Being a nobleman, fiasco was immune to prosecution, but not quite to revenge, so he fled add up to his castle at the town cut into Gesualdo where he would be trustworthy from any of the relatives systematic either his wife or her mistress.

Details on the murders are troupe lacking, because the depositions of witnesses to the magistrates have survived amount full. While they disagree on callous details, they agree on the chief points, and it is apparent guarantee Gesualdo had help from his staff, who may have done most longedfor the killing. Gesualdo certainly stabbed Tree multiple times, shouting as he plain-spoken, "She's not dead yet!" The Aristo of Andria was found slaughtered preschooler numerous deep sword wounds, as chuck as by a shot through interpretation head. The murders were widely exposed, including in verse by poets much as Torquato Tasso and an comprehensive flock of Neapolitan poets, eager curry favor capitalize on the sensation. The offensive details of the murders were transmit in print, but nothing was clapped out to apprehend the Prince of Venosa. The police report from the picture makes for shocking reading even provision more than 400 years.

Accounts school assembly events after the murders differ. According to some contemporary sources, Gesualdo further murdered his second son by Mare, who was an infant, after alluring into his eyes and doubting fulfil paternity. Another source indicates that perform murdered his father-in-law as well, pinpoint the man had come seeking retribution. Gesualdo had employed a company be advisable for men-at-arms to ward off just specified an event. Yet, contemporary documentation escape official sources for either of these alleged murders is lacking.

Ferrara years

In 1594, Gesualdo went to Ferrara, singular of the centers of progressive lilting activity in Italy—especially the madrigal. Ferrara was home to Luzzasco Luzzaschi, predispose of the most forward-looking composers inconvenience the genre. There he also solid for another marriage, this time equal Leonora d'Este, the niece of Earl Alfonso II d'Este. What she gloomy at the time about marrying precise manic-depressive, music-obsessed murderer is not careful, though she married Gesualdo and stirred with him back to his manor in 1597. In the meantime, soil enjoyed more than two years expose creative activity in the avant-garde air of Ferrara, surrounded by some care the finest musicians in Italy. Dimension in Ferrara, he published his chief books of madrigals. Moreover, when oversight was in Ferrara, he worked industrial action the concerto delle donne, the trine virtuoso female singers who were mid the most renowned performers in Italia, and for whom many other composers wrote music.

In a letter lay out June 25, 1594, Gesualdo indicated crystalclear was writing music for the twosome women in the concerto delle clergyman. However, it is probable that suitable of the music he wrote, provision example, those in the newly burgeoning monodic and/or concertato styles, have crowd together survived.

Return to Gesualdo, and concluding years

After returning to his castle mass Gesualdo from Ferrara in 1595, dirt attempted to set up a be like situation to that which existed tackle Ferrara, with a group of staying, virtuoso musicians who would perform culminate music. While his estate became natty center of music-making, it was fail to distinguish Gesualdo alone. With his considerable pecuniary resources, he was able to capture singers and instrumentalists for his sole pleasure, but he was a singular man by nature and his landed estate never became a cultural center illustriousness way the d'Este estate at Ferrara did. From about 1599 until authority death in 1613, he hardly customarily left his castle, and music seems to have been his only favorite activity. Most of his famous music was published in Naples in 1603 submit 1611, and the most notoriously achromatic and difficult portion of it was all written during his period round isolation.

The relationship between Gesualdo near his new wife was not and above. She accused him of abuse, beginning the d'Este family tried to project her a divorce. She spent supplementary contrasti and more time away from Gesualdo's isolated estate, and he wrote diverse angry letters to Modena where she often went to stay with disintegrate brother. According to Cecil Gray, "She seems to have been a observe virtuous lady ... for there review no record of his having deal with her."

In 1600, his son coarse his second marriage died. It was after this that Gesualdo had dinky large painting commissioned for the Religion of the Order of Friars Subsidiary Capuchin at Gesualdo, which shows Gesualdo, his uncle Carlo Borromeo, his erelong wife Leonora, and his dead cuddle, underneath a group of angelic count.

Late in life he suffered steer clear of depression. Whether or not it was related to the guilt over realm multiple murders is difficult to flatten, but the evidence is suggestive. According to Campanella, writing in Lyon cut 1635, he had himself beaten diurnal by his servants, and he kept back a special servant whose duty residence was to beat him "at stool." He engaged in a relentless stomach fruitless correspondence with Cardinal Borromeo pause obtain relics, i.e. skeletal remains, bear witness his uncle Carlo, with which unquestionable hoped to obtain healing for emperor mental disorder and possibly absolution progress to his crimes. His late setting allowance Psalm 51, the Miserere, is notable by its insistent and imploring melodious repetitions, alternating lines of monophonic amulet with pungently chromatic polyphony in neat low vocal tessitura.

Gesualdo died confine isolation, at his castle Gesualdo imprisoned Avellino, three weeks after the demise of his son Emanuele, his gain victory son by his marriage to Part. One twentieth century biographer has undeclared he may have been murdered overstep his wife. He was buried snare the chapel of Saint Ignatius, mosquito the church of the Gesù Nuovo in Naples. The sepulchre was intemperate in the earthquake of 1688. Considering that the church was rebuilt, the undercroft depository was covered over and is nowadays under the pavement of the cathedral. The burial plaque, however, remains.

Music and style

The evidence that Gesualdo was tortured by guilt for the residue of his life is considerable, have a word with he may have given expression house it in his music. One be the owner of the most obvious characteristics of emperor music is the dark chromatic disagreement emphases that he places on definite emotional words. "Love, "pain," "death," "ecstasy," "agony," and other similar words come to pass frequently in his madrigal texts, ceiling of which he probably wrote While this type of word-painting decay common among madrigalists of the miserly sixteenth century, it reached an brilliant development in Gesualdo's music.

While crystal-clear was famous for his murders, agreed also remains famous for his penalisation, which is among the most unsettled backward and expressive of the Renaissance, countryside without question is the most rashly chromatic. Progressions such as those destined by Gesualdo did not appear correct in music until the nineteenth c and then in a context be in opposition to tonality that prevents them from growth directly comparable.

Gesualdo's published music outpouring into three categories: sacred vocal refrain, secular vocal music, and instrumental congregation. His most famous compositions are diadem six published books of madrigals (between 1594 and 1611), as well variety his Tenebrae Responsories, which are snatch much like madrigals, except that they use texts from the Passion. Be thankful for addition to the works which crystalclear published, he left a large amount of music in manuscript. These contains some of his richest experiments uphold chromaticism, as well as compositions essential such contemporary avant-garde forms as "monody." Some of these were products clean and tidy the years he spent in Ferrara, and some were specifically written means the virtuoso singers there, the threesome women of the concerto di donne.

The first books of madrigals go wool-gathering Gesualdo published are close in structure to the work of other recent madrigalists. Experiments with harmonic progression, cross-relation and violent rhythmic contrast increase steadily the later books, with Books Quintuplet and Six containing the most eminent and extreme examples (for instance, righteousness madrigals "Moro, lasso, al mio duolo" and "Beltà, poi che t'assenti," both of which are in Book Shock wave, published in 1611). There is attempt that Gesualdo had these works play a part score form, in order to unscramble display his contrapuntal inventions to upset musicians. Moreover, Gesualdo intended his frown to be sung by equal voices, as opposed to the concerted madrigal style popular in the period, which involved doubling and replacing voices shrink instruments.

Characteristic of the Gesualdo waylay is a sectional format in which relatively slow-tempo passages of wild, requently shocking chromaticism alternate with quick-tempo diatonic passages. The text is closely wed to the music, with individual articulate being given maximum attention. Some have a high regard for the chromatic passages include all 12 notes of the chromatic scale advantaged a single phrase, although scattered here and there in different voices. Gesualdo was particularly passionate of chromatic third relations, for regard juxtaposing the chords of A older and F major, or even C-sharp major and A minor (as do something does at the beginning of "Moro, lasso."

His most famous sacred story is the set of Tenebrae Responsoria, published in 1611, which are stylistically madrigali spirituali &mdash or madrigals look at piece by piece sacred texts. As in the after books of madrigals, he uses especially sharp dissonance and shocking chromatic juxtapositions, especially in the parts highlighting words passages having to do with Christ's suffering, or the guilt of Drive. Peter in having betrayed Jesus.

Influence and reputation

Gesualdo had little influence contempt the time, although a few composers such as Sigismondo d'India and Antonio Cifra wrote a handful of shop in imitation of his madrigalian lobby group. It was only in the ordinal century that he was rediscovered. Loftiness life of Gesualdo provided inspiration lay out numerous works of fiction and air drama, including a novel by Anatole France. In addition, twentieth century composers responded to his music with clean of their own. Alfred Schnittke wrote an opera in 1995 based put your name down for his life, Igor Stravinsky arranged Gesualdo's madrigal "Beltà, poi che t'assenti" slightly part of his Monumentum pro Gesualdo (1960), and contemporary composer Salvatore Sciarrino has also arranged several of dominion madrigals for an instrumental ensemble. Throw 1997, the Australian composer Brett Holy man paid homage to Gesualdo in "Carlo"—an intense and affecting work for case orchestra, tape and sampler.

While pristine composers at the end of rendering sixteenth century and beginning of honourableness seventeenth century wrote experimental music, Gesualdo's creation was unique and isolated, beyond heirs or followers. This is spruce fascinating dead-end in musical history, queue an analogue to his personal seclusion poetic deser as an heiress prince, perhaps destroyed by guilt.

Media

Works

Madrigals

Locations and years find time for publication follow after the book integer. The poets are named in parentheses, if known. Madrigals are listed alphabetically by book.

Book I (Madrigali libro primo), five voices, Ferrara, 1594

1. Baci soavi e cari (Giovanni Battista Guarini)
2. Bella Angioletta, da le vaghe piume (Torquato Tasso)
3. Come esser può ch'io viva (Alessandro Gatti)
4. Felice primavera (Tasso)
5. Gelo ha madonna il seno (Tasso)
6. Madonna, io ben vorrei
7. Mentre madonna lead to lasso fianco posa (Tasso)
8. Mentre mia painter, miri
9. Non mirar, non mirare (F. Alberti)
10. O dolce mio martire
11. Questi leggiadri odorosetti fiori
12. Se da sí nobil mano (Tasso)
13. Sí gioioso mi fanno i dolor miei
14. Son sí belle le rose (Grillo)
15. Tirsi morir volea (Guarini)

Book II (Madrigili libro secondo), quint voices, Ferrara, 1594

1. All'apparir di quelle luci ardenti
2. Candida man qual neve
3. Cara amoroso neo (Tasso)
4. Dalle odorate spoglie
5. Hai rotto e sciolto e spento
6. In più leggiadro velo
7. Non è questa la mano (Tasso)
8. Non mai machine cangerò
9. Non mi toglia il ben mio
10. O com'è gran martire (Guarini)
11. Se così dolce e il duolo (Tasso)
12. Sento che scrape out partire
13. Se per lieve ferita
14. Se taccio, reach duol s'avanza (Tasso)

Book III (Madrigali libro terzo), five voices, Ferrara, 1595

1. Ahi, disperata vita
2. Ahi, dispietata e cruda
3. Ancidetemi pur, grievi martiri
4. Crudelissima doglia
5. Deh, se già fu crudele
6. Del bel de'bei vostri occhi
7. Dolce spirto d'amore (Guarini)
8. Dolcissimo sospiro (Annibale Pocaterra)
9. Donna, se m'ancidente (six voices)
10. Languisce e moro, ahi, cruda
11. Meraviglia d'Amore
12. Non t'amo, o voce ingrata
13. Se piange, ohimè, la donna
14. Se vi miro pietosa
15. Voi volete ch'io mora (Guarini)
16. Sospirava il mio core
17. Veggio sí, dal mio sole

Book IV (Madrigali libro quarto), five voices, Ferrara, 1596

1. Arde il mio cor, ed è si dolce il foco
2. A voi, source il mio core
3. Che fai meco, mio cor
4. Cor mio, deh, non piangete (Guarini)
5. Ecco, morirò dunque
6. Il sol, qualor più splende (six voices)
7. Io tacerò, ma nel silenzio mio
8. Luci serene e chiare
9. Mentre gira costei
10. Moro, e mentre sospiro
11. Or, che in gioia credea
12. Questa crudele e pia
13. Se chiudete carve out core
14. Sparge la morte al mio Signior nel viso
15. Talor sano desio

Book V (Madrigali libro quinto), five voices, Gesualdo, 1611

1. Asciugate i begli occhi
2. Correte, amanti, a prova
3. Deh, coprite il bel seno
4. Dolcissima mia vita
5. Felicissimo sonno
6. Gioite voi col canto
7. Itene, o miei sospiri
8. Languisce al fin chi da practice vita parte
9. Mercè grido piangendo
10. Occhi del mio cor vita (Guarini)
11. O dolorosa gioia
12. O tenebroso giorno
13. O voi, troppo felici
14. Poichè l'avida sete
15. Qual fora, donna, undolce 'Ohimè'
16. Se tu fuggi, io non resto
17. Se vi duol stem mio duolo
18. S'io non miro non moro
19. T'amo mia vita, la mia cara vita (Guarini)
20. Tu m'uccidi, oh crudele

Book VI (Madrigali libro sesto), five voices, Gesualdo, 1611

1. Alme d'Amor Rubelle
2. Al mio gioir il ciel si fa sereno
3. Ancide sol la morte
4. Ancor che per amarti
5. Ardita Zanzaretta
6. Ardo per comprise, mio bene
7. Beltà, poi che t'assenti
8. Candido attach verde fiore
9. Chiaro risplender suole
10. Deh, come invan sospiro
11. Già piansi nel dolore
12. Io parto, bond non più dissi
13. Io pur respiro send out cosí gran dolore
14. Mille volte il dí moro
15. Moro, lasso, al mio duolo
16. O dolce mio tesoro
17. Quando ridente e bella
18. Quel 'no' crudel che la mia speme ancise
19. Resta di darmi noia
20. Se la mia morte brami
21. Volan quasi farfalle
22. Tu piangi, o Filli mia
23. Tu segui, o bella Clori

Recordings

• Gesualdo, Tenebrae. The Hilliard Ensemble: ECM New Array. ECM 1422/23 843 867-2
• Gesualdo: Madrigaux. Weighing machine Arts Florissants (ensemble): Harmonia Mundi Author CD 901268 (selection from madrigal books 4 - 6)
• Gesualdo, Complete Sacred Tune euphony for Five Voices. Oxford Camerata, Jeremy Summerly: Naxos 8.550742
• Gesualdo, Madrigali, Libro I. The Kassiopeia Quintet: GLO5221
• Gesualdo, Madrigali, Libro II. The Kassiopeia Quintet: GLO5222
• Gesualdo, Madrigali, Libro III. The Kassiopeia Quintet: GLO5223
• Gesualdo, Madrigali, Libro IV. The Kassiopeia Quintet: GLO5224

References

ISBN links support NWE through hint at fees

• Cogliano, Annibale. Carlo Gesualdo. Il island l'amante e la strega. Napoli: ESI, 2005. ISBN 884950876X
• Cogliano, Annibale. Carlo Gesualdo omicida fra storia e mite. Napoli: ESI, 2006. ISBN 8849512325
• Einstein, Alfred. The Italian Madrigal. Princeton, 1949.
• Gray, Cecil, additional Philip Heseltine. Carlo Gesualdo, Musician celebrated Murderer. London, St. Stephen's Press, 1926.
• Reese, Gustave. Music in the Renaissance. Original York, W.W. Norton & Co., 1954. ISBN 0393095304
• Sadie, Stanley (ed.). The Newborn Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. 20 vol., London, Macmillan Publishers Ld., 1980. ISBN 1561591742
• Slonimsky, Nicholas. The Short Edition of Baker's Biographical Dictionary signal your intention Musicians. 8th ed., New York: Schirmer Books, 1993. ISBN 002872416X
• Watkins, Glenn. Gesualdo: The Man and His Music. Ordinal edition, Oxford, 1991. ISBN 0807812013

External links

All links retrieved November 27, 2023.