This recitative is from Claudio Monteverdi's opera Orfeo. It is an important for several reasons:
Orfeo is considered by many to be the first great Italian opera. It dates from the early 1600s and is one of the works used to mark the beginning of the Baroque era. It builds on the ideas of the earlier Florentine Camarata concerning the use of the recitative, and the homophonic texture in preference to polyphony.
This selection is an example of the recitative form.
The singing style is simple and designed to provide the singer with a vehicle for a dramatic delivery of the text rather than just a chance to show off his beautiful voice. This is the opposite of the aria, in which the beautiful melodic contour takes precedence over the text.
In the recitative there is usually one syl-lable or word per note with very little melodic embellishment.
Note the simple, chordal accompaniment, in this case provided by organ and lute.
Several striking examples of word painting occur in this recitative.
The words "abysses," "death," and "farewell" are sung on low notes.
The words "stars," "sky," and "sun" are sung on high notes.
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Tu se' morta, se morta, mia vita
You are dead, you are dead, my dearest,
ed io respiro, tu se' da me partita,
And I breathe, you have left me,
se' da me partita per mai più,
You have left me forevermore,
mai più non tornare, ed io rimango-
Never to return, and I remain-
no, no, che se i versi alcuna cosa ponno,
No, no, if my verses have any power,
n'andrò sicuro a' più profondi abissi,
I will go confidently to the deepest abysses,
e, intenerito il cor del re de l'ombre,
And, having melted the heart of the king of shadows,