17th Century Italian Laments
Lamento is a musical genre that emerged in Italy in the early 17th century, during the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque period. It is characterized by its intense expression of sorrow, grief, and lamentation, often featuring a solo voice accompanied by a basso continuo. The text of a lamento typically describes a tragic event or situation, such as the death of a loved one, the loss of honor, or the frustration of unrequited love. Through its emotive melodies and harmonies, the lamento aims to move the listener to tears and evoke a sense of empathy and compassion.
“Bacchus and Ariadne” painting by Alessandro Turchi (L'Orbetto), c. 1630. The artwork depicts the mythological figures of Bacchus and Ariadne, with Bacchus appearing to rescue Ariadne from her abandonment on the island of Naxos by Theseus. The painting is currently held at the National Gallery in Prague.
Many composers of the early Baroque period were drawn to the expressive potential of the lamento, including Claudio Monteverdi, Giacomo Carissimi, Barbara Strozzi, and Luigi Rossi. One of the most famous examples of the genre is Monteverdi's Lamento d'Arianna from his opera L'Arianna, with its expressive melodic lines and intricate chromatic harmonies perfectly capturing the deep despair of the protagonist.
First two pages of the first edition of Monteverdi’s Lamento d’Arianna, published by Gardano in Venice in 1623.
For those who are interested in exploring the genre of lamento further, I have created a curated playlist on my YouTube channel, which features a selection of beautiful and moving laments by composers of the 17th-century Italian Baroque. The playlist can be accessed by clicking on 17th Century Italian Laments. Furthermore, if you are interested in acquiring transcriptions of these laments, they are available for purchase on the virtual store of my website.
References:
Bukofzer, M. (1947). Music in the Baroque Era. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Carter, T. (2004). Lament. Grove Music Online. https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.16184
Carter, T. (2013). The Oxford History of Western Music, Volume II: Music in the 17th and 18th Centuries. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
