Recent Researches in the Music of the Baroque Era

Il secondo libro de madrigali a cinque voci, the second of six madrigal books by the Florentine composer Marco da Gagliano (1582–1643), was originally published in Venice in 1604. It is distinguished not only for the excellence of its music, but also for its use of texts by some of Italy's most celebrated poets. It includes a Petrarch sonnet, an excerpt from Sannazaro's Arcadia, a portion of a monologue from Guarini's Il pastor fido, and poem by Marino, Strozzi, and Murtola, along with verses by seven less well-known authors. In addition to its fourteen madrigals by Gagliano, the book contains works by three guest composers: Luca Bati (his teacher), Piero Strozzi, and Giovanni Del Turco (Gagliano's student and the book's dedicatee). At the close of the volume are four threnodies in honor of the renowned Florentine patron Jacopo Corsi (d. 1602). Gagliano's madrigals in the Secondo libro, like those of his first book, set words syllabically, are often homophonic, and are filled with expressive and declamatory motives. They embody many of the musical ideals of the Florentine camerata, especially that of the clear projection of text as an essential, even though manifested in an a cappella ensemble. Gagliano's work was admired throughout Europe during his lifetime, and especially so in Florence, where he flourished as the city's leading composer for more than forty years. Today his madrigals can be recognized as personal and brilliant utterances made by one of the last great composers of the genre in Italy.

Music Sample

Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Gagliano's Career
Gagliano's Madrigals
Il secondo libro de madrigal
Comments on the Madrigals of Il secondo libro
Notes
Texts and Translations
Plates

Il secondo libro de madrigali a cinque voci
Dedication

1. O Morte, a gli altri fosca
2. Ohimè, che tutta piaga e tutta sangue
3. In qual parte del ciel
4. Infelici occhi miei
5. Ergasto mio, per che solingo
6. Di mie tante sventure
7. Assetato d'amor, Tirsi infelice
8. Se de tormenti miei, Luca Bati
9. Al tramontar del Sole
10. Vivo, mio Sol, tu giri
11. Cingetemi d'intorno
12. Ecco Maggio seren
13. Queste lucenti Stelle
14. Fuggì lo spirto
15. Deh, rivolgete il guardo
16. Portate, Aure del Ciel, Piero Strozzi
17. Corso hai di questa vita, Giovanni Del Turco

Critical Report
Source
Editorial Methods
Critical Notes