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To listen to a complete general midi version click here:
Music from Orfeo - Soundcloud
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10130- Music from Orfeo Claudio Monteverdi arranged for 10-piece brass ensemble by Roger Harvey Difficulty: Medium Price: £35.00 Programme note: Monteverdi was the great transitional figure between the Baroque and Renaissance eras; he learned his trade in late 16th Century formal polyphphonic style but was at the forefront of the development of the more aesthically expressive seconda pratica, the use of melodic lines supported by a basso continuo. Although there were some earlier attempts at bonding collections of stage music presented as court entertainment into opera, Orfeo is the earliest meaningful example that exists and that is still regularly performed. It was written in 1607 during a particularly productive period while employed at the Mantuan court. It tells the story of the forthcoming marraige of Orfeo to Euridice, her death from a snake-bite, his vain attempt to bring her back from Hades and final reconciliation thanks to deus ex machina. The music consists of arias and recitatives for solo singers, which tell the story, interspersinwith choruses which comment on it, in a framework of instrumental sinfonias and ritornelli. This selection of transcriptions of instrumental and chorus events broadly follows the order of the opera.Act I: 1. Toccata I am Music, who in sweet accents Can calm each troubled heart And now with noble anger, now with love, Can kindle the most frigid minds. Hence desire spurs me to tell you of Orpheus, the immortal glory of Pindus and Helicon, Orpheus who drew wild beasts to him by his singing, and who subjugated Hades by hie entreaties. Now while I alternate my songs, now happy, now sad, Let no small bird stir among these trees, No noisy wave be heard on these river-banks, And let each little breeze halt its course. 2. Prologue - Ritornello introducing the muse, Music On this happy and auspicious day which has put an end to the amorous torments of our demi-god, let us sing, shepherds,in such sweet accents that our strains shall be worthy of Orpheus. Today fair Euiridyce's heart, formerly so disdainful, has been touched with compassion; Today Orpheaus has been made happy in the bosom of her for whom he once sighed and wept so much amongst these woods. Leave the Mountains, Leave the Fountains, Charming, happy nymphs, And in these meadows Rejoice your fair feet With your accustomed dances. 3. Chorus - Lasciate i monti (Leave the mountains) But if pure joy derives from Heaven, as everything we encounter down here is from heaven, it is surely meet that we should devoutly offer up incense and prayers: Therefore let each turn his steps to the temple, to pray to him who holds the world in his right hand, that he may long preserve our well-being. Let there be no-one who gives himself up to grief, Though at times it may darken our lives. For after a malign cloud has affrighted the world The sun displays more brightly his radiant beams. And after the sharp frost of naked winter Spring decks the field with flowers. 4. Ritornello - Prayers of thanksgiving Here is Orpheus, for whom but recently sighs were food and tears were drink; Today he is full with elation that he has nothing more to long for. 5. Chorus - Ecco Orfeo (Here is Orpheus) 6. Sinfonia - Celebratory Dance Ah, bitter blow! Ah, wicked cruel Fate! Ah, baleful stars! Ah, greedy heaven! Shepherd's, cease your singing, for all our gaity has turned to pain. In a flowery meadow, your beloved bride, Eurydice, was wandering, gathering flowers to make of them a garland, when a treacherous snake bit her foot with its venomous fangs. And lo, immediately her fair face lost its colour, and her eyes, whose lustre put the sun to shame, grew dim. Opening her drooping eyes a little she called for you, Orpheus, and after a deep sigh she expired in my arms. Ah, bitter blow! Ah, wicked cruel Fate! Ah, baleful stars! Ah, greedy heaven! Act II: 7. Chorus - Ahi, caso ascerbo (Ah, Bitter blow!) But I, the messenger, who in my tongue have borne the knife that has slain Orpheus's loving heart, where shall I hide me? An ill-omened creature of the night, I will forever shun the sun, and in a lonely cavern lead a life in keeping with my sorrow. 8. Ritornello - Messenger's remorse 9. Sinfonia - Postlude to Act II Guided by the goddess of Hope, I, Orpheus have at last reached these gloomy and sombre realms where I still hope today to see once more those blessed eyes which alone bring daylight to my soul. O you who rashly approach these shores before death, stay your steps; it is not given to mortal man to plough these waves; Perhaps, as an enemy of my lord, you wish to drag Cerberus from the gate of Tartarus? Act III: 10. Sinfonia - Charon's refusal O Charon, mighty spirit and fearsome deity, give me aid. Fear ye not, since I arm my fingers only with sweet strings on a golden lyre. He sleeps; And even if my lyre cannot arouse pity in that stony heart, at least his eyes cannott avoid slumber at my singing. Persuaded by his devoted wife's pleading Pluto has yeilded and the wretched Orpheus may lead his beloved Eurydice to return to the plains of Thrace on condition that, before his feet are clear of that abyss, he does not once turn his eager eyes toward her. But afeared that his treasure should be snatched from him he turns and she is returned to the shadows of death, no more to hope to see the stars again, for henceforth Hades is deaf to her prayers. Act IV: 11. Sinfonia - Eurydice's return to Hades (Orpheus:)These are the plains of Thrace, and this is the place where grief pierced my heart at the bitter tidings. You grieved sweet woods, mountains and rocks at the departure of our sun. I will mourn with you evermore and give myself up forever to my pain and grief. But, at my time of direst need, I am attended by the great and benevolent, Apollo, descending, bourne by a cloud, from heaven (Apollo:) Why thus do you give yourself over as prey to grief and anger, my son? Far too greatly did you delight in your happy fortune, now too greatly do you bewail your bitter lot. On Earth nothing that delights is lasting. Therefore, if you wish to cherish the fair features of your beloved Euridyce for evermore, come with me to the heaven that welcomes you. Orpheus' cup of joy is filled; He is risen to realms suopernal. There are pain and sorrow stilled; There is peace and bliss eternal. He shall taste the joys of Heaven who omn Earth has braved the Infernal. He who sows his seed in sorrow Fruits of grace shall reap tomorrow. Act V: 12. Ritornello: Chorus- Vanne Orfeo (Orfeo's cup of joy is filled) 13. Moresca Performance note: The suite can be performed straight through as a substantial item or movements can be selected at will to construct a personal perfoming version. The included text may be spoken to set the scene. The upper trumpets will require either E flat or piccolo trumpets. Trumpets 3 and 4 require flugels. In general the style should be light, with precise articulation and reserved dynamics. Some phrasings are marked to suggest style but these are editorial and can be altered if desired. Play the slower music with expression. In general, if the text is not used,2 the movements should be played segue. |
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