Moro, lasso, al mio duolo

Question 1

Carlo Gesualdo, an aristocratic amateur musician whose title was _

Answer 1

Prince of Venosa

Question 2

Carlo Gesualdo is known for his shocking use of chromaticism in his madrigals, and for his equally shocking act of _

Answer 2

murdering his wife

Question 3

Moro, lasso, al mio duolo is found in _

Answer 3

Il Sesto Libro di Madrigali (Sixth Book of Madrigals)

Question 4

Moro, lasso, al mio duolo background information

Answer 4

• Madrigal
• Carlo Gesualdo
• publish 1611
• Italian
• a cappella voices
• polyphonic
• 5 voices

Question 5

Moro, lasso, al mio duolo essay sections

Answer 5

• opening passage

- (later)

Question 6

Moro, lasso, al mio duolo opening passage

Answer 6

• highly chromatic opening passage
• virtually every half step within octave employed (within first four measures): musical tension, emotional intensity
• descending chromatic line: represent death and grief
• passage recurs when words “moro lasso” return later in the madrigal

Question 7

Moro, lasso, al mio duolo (later)

Answer 7

• diatonic passage on “E chi mi può dar vita” contrasts w/ chromaticism on “moro lasso”
• imitative texture contrast w/ earlier chordal passage
• word painting on “vita” (life): more rhythmic activity reflect energy of life
• imitation and sequential repetition of this motive