Il secondo libro de madrigali (Second book of Madrigals) - Claudio Monteverdi

Il secondo libro de madrigali (Second book of Madrigals) by Claudio Monteverdi

Monteverdi completed his second of Madrigals at some point between 1587 and 1590. Evidence suggests Monteverdi was a student at the Cremona Cathedral at the time, but he would clearly travel to other regions of Lombardy even at this young age (he was in his early 20’s). The second book of madrigals would be published in Brescia, some 50km from Cremona. Monteverdi dedicated the work to Giacomo Ricardi, the President of the Senate of Milan.

A Madrigal is a song, usually for four voices, based on secular text or poetry, however this collection (and Monteverdi’s first book of Madrigals) would be for five voices.

There are 20 individual songs within the second book:
I. Non si levav’ancor l’alba novella, SV 40
II. E dicea l’una sospirando allora, SV 40b
III. Bevea fillide mia, SV 41
IV. Dolcissimi legami, SV 42
V. Non giacinti o narcisi, SV 43
VI. Intorno a due vermiglie e vaghe labra, SV 44
VII. Non sono in queste rive, SV 45
VIII. Tutte le bocche belle, SV 46
IX. Donna, nel mio ritorno, SV 47
X. Quell’ombr’esser vorrei, SV 48
XI. S’andasse Amor a caccia, SV 49
XII. Mentr’io miravo fiso, SV 50
XIII. Se tu mi lassi, perfida, tuo danno, SV 53
XIV. Ecco mormorar l’onde, SV 51
XV. Dolcemente dormiva la mia Clori, SV 52
XVI. Crudel, perché mi fuggi, SV 55
XVII. Questo specchio ti dono, SV 56
XVIII. Non m’è grave il morire, SV 57
XIX. Ti spontò l’ali, Amor, la donna mia, SV 58
XX. Cantai un tempo, e se fu dolce il canto, SV 59