Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) is an Italian composer, who is perhaps the most well-known composer to precede J.S Bach. Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore the wide world of Divino Claudio with Stretta Music today!
Claudio Monteverdi was born in Cremona in 1567, the same year Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina published the “Missa papae Marcelli”, a good example of the austere style imposed upon musicians by the Church at the time. Monteverdi was a pupil of Marc’Antonio Ingegneri, the choir master of Cremona Cathedral. His compositional talent was soon recognised, and at the age of 15 he published the “Sacrae cantiunculae”, compositions for three voices, at 16 the “Madrigali spirituali” and at 17 the “Canzonette”. In 1589, at the age of 22, he joined the Court of Mantua as a viola player, and in 1603 he became Maestro di Cappella. Ten years later, in 1613 he moved to Venice, to take up the same position at St. Mark’s Basilica, where he stayed until his death in 1643.
In Monteverdi’s “First Book of Madrigals” from 1587, one can already find progressive harmonic and melodic elements that break tradition, but it is his “Fifth Book of Madrigals” from 1605, that really marks the transition between the Renaissance and the Baroque periods. It was through his harmonic and melodic experimentation that Monteverdi coined the stile concitato, as seen in his famous “Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda” from 1624.
Divino Claudio, as Claudio Monteverdi is often referred to in Italy, is best known as the inventor of musical melodrama. Although he wrote at least 18 operas, only “L’Orfeo”, 1607, the aria “Lamento d’Arianna” from “L’Arianna”, 1608, “Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria”, 1640, and the “Incoronazione di Poppea”, 1643, have been preserved.
Interesting that Monteverdi chose to write “L’Orfeo” as one of his first theatrical works, the “Fable in Music” dedicated to the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is said to be the first work in the history of music, and it is the same story that ends an era, namely with “Orpheus” by Gluck. According to Claudio Toscani, Orpheus is “the first real protagonist in the history of modern musical theatre”, and with him the history of opera really began.
Contemporary musicologists have devoted much attention to Monteverdi and his compositions. Gian Francesco Malipiero commissioned the publication of Opera Omnia to “spread the works of one of Italy’s true geniuses” and “to show once again how great manifestations of art always remain modern’.
The Monteverdi Festival takes place in Cremona every year, where the Fondazione Claudio Monteverdi, which is dedicated to the critical editions of his work, is located.
A fresh rose is regularly placed at the tomb of Claudio Monteverdi in the Basilica dei Frari di Venezia.
Musica religiosa - aus Band 15/1 der Monteverdi Gesamtausgabe
for: für Chor SSATTBB, 2 Violinen, 4 Posaunen (4 Viole da brazzo) und Basso continuo Posaune 3 (Violoncello 1 ad lib.)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1134817
Marienvesper SV 206
Urtext
for: 7 soloists (SSATTBB), mixed choir (SSATTB), orchestra, basso continuo
Viola 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 676272
for: für Sopran,Streicher und Orgel Violoncello
Single part
Item no.: 1135566
mit beiden Versionen des Magnificat
for: Soloists, 2 mixed choirs (SSATTB, SATTB), orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 677596
for: Voice, guitar
Songbook
Item no.: 603021
mit beiden Versionen des Magnificat
Lauda und Magnificat sind eine Quarte abwärts transponiert
for: Soloists, 2 mixed choirs (SSATTB, SATTB), orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 657090
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 860787
aus Band VIII/1,2 Canti guerrieri et amorosi
for: für Chor SATB und Basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 1135379
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: 1. Flöte, 2. Flöte, 1. Zink (3. Zink), 2. Zink (3. Zink), 1. Posaune, 2. Posaune, 3. Posaune, Bass-Posaune (tief)
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 882275
for: Two-Part Mixed Voices, Keyboard
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 915333
6. Oimè il bel viso, oimè ’l soave sguardo
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 1629510
6. Intorno a due vermiglie e vaghe labra
for: SSATB Chor
Choir score
Item no.: 1629394
15. Vivrò fra i miei tormenti e le mie cure - Prima parte
for: SSATB Chor
Choir score
Item no.: 1629377
10. Voi pur da me partite, anima dura
for: SSATB Chor
Choir score
Item no.: 1204117
2. Cor mio, mentre vi miro
for: SSATB Chor
Choir score
Item no.: 1204131
9. Donna, nel mio ritorno il mio pensiero
for: SSATB Chor
Choir score
Item no.: 1204141
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: 3. Viola
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 879186
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Study score
Item no.: 392175
Nr. 14 aus dem "2. Buch der Madrigale"
for: 5 Stimmen (SSATB) a cappella
Chorpartitur
Item no.: 361276
17. Anima dolorosa, che vivendo
for: SSATB Chor
Choir score
Item no.: 1629359
Score
Item no.: 549830
Gesamtausgabe
for: für 1, 3 oder 5 Singstimmen und Instrumente
Partitur
Item no.: 332874
from "The Vespers of 1610"
Music for Brass (Robert King) 71
for: Brass ensemble; voice (soprano) ad lib.
Score, Parts
Item no.: 413056
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 261955
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 261954
Pianto della Madonna
for: Voice (alto), organ
Score
Item no.: 371065
für Soli, gem Chor und Bc (Instrumente ad lib) Partitur
aus: Selva morale et spirituale
for: Soloists, mixed choir (SATB), basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 666527
für Soli (SSTT), gemischten Chor (SATB, SATB), zwei Violinen, Instrumente ad libitum und Basso continuo
aus: Selva morale et spirituale SV 273 (Urtext)
for: Soloists, mixed choir (SATB), 2 violins, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 666486
aus: Selva morale et spirituale
SV 275
Urtext
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, ATTB), basso continuo; 8 melody instruments colla parte ad lib.
Set of parts
Item no.: 666995
aus: Selva morale et spirituale
SV 270
Urtext
for: Mixed choir (SSTTB) [5 voices], 2 violins, basso continuo; melody instruments colla parte ad lib.
Set of parts
Item no.: 666987
aus: Selva morale et spirituale
SV 268
Urtext
for: Mixed choir (SSATTB) [6 voices], 2 violins, basso continuo; instruments colla parte ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 666980
Ecco mormorar l'onde
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 934350
for: Soprano Mezzo-Soprano Bass Voice String Instruments Organ Acc.
Book
Item no.: 321479
für fünf Singstimmen
Monteverdi-Gesamtausgabe Bd. 1
for: Mixed choir (5 parts) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 301131
Gesamtausgabe Monteverdi GA/Bd. 6
for: Mixed choir (5 parts) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 213196
aus Band 6 der GA
for: Mixed choir (5 parts) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 164124
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1315043
Marienvesper
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Study score
Item no.: 136463
for: Women's choir [male choir] (3 voices)
Choir score
Item no.: 850784
Musica religiosa - aus Band 15/2 der GA
for: für Chor SSAATTBB (davon ATB auch solistisch) und Basso continuo
Chorpartitur
Item no.: 1135033
Harmonia-Womens Choir
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 925742
for: Voice
Choir score
Item no.: 1172306
GIA Instrumental
for: 2 Trumpets and 2 Trombones
Buch
Item no.: 1158426
Musica religiosa - aus Band 15/2 der GASV267
for: für Chor SSATB, Streicher und Basso continuo Violoncello 1
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1135191
for: SOLI gemischter Chor, Streicher, Orgel
Score
Item no.: 463803
(Urtext)
for: Mixed choir, basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 428088
for: 4 TRP ORG PK
Item no.: 277828