Sheet music

Original

Messa da Capella a quattro voci. 1641. Claudio Monteverdi. A cappella. Sacred , Mass. Language. Latin. SATB.

Translation

Messa da Capella a quattro voci. 1641. Claudio Monteverdi. A cappella. Sacred , Mass. Language. Latin. SATB.

Original

The Mass of 1641 presents a unique arrangement of the Credo. For three of the verses Monteverdi provided substitute compositions in a wholly different style. the verses are Crucifixus etiam pro nobis , Et resurrexit tertia die , and Et iterum venturus est. Monteverdi singled them out and wrote special compositions in stile concertato to replace the versions in a cappella style. Crucifixus , for four solo voices, is based on a motif in chromatic descent that Monteverdi used as a symbolic expression of pain. Et resurrexit , for two soprani and two violins with basso continue, is in the typical style of a trio cantata. Et iterum for two contralti and bass is in the highly figurative concerted style, with an accompaniment of four trombones, or viole da braccio, surely to indicate the instruments that shall sound on the day of the Last Judgment.

Translation

The Mass of 1641 presents a unique arrangement of the Credo. For three of the verses Monteverdi provided substitute compositions in a wholly different style. the verses are Crucifixus etiam pro nobis , Et resurrexit tertia die , and Et iterum venturus est. Monteverdi singled them out and wrote special compositions in stile concertato to replace the versions in a cappella style. Crucifixus , for four solo voices, is based on a motif in chromatic descent that Monteverdi used as a symbolic expression of pain. Et resurrexit , for two soprani and two violins with basso continue, is in the typical style of a trio cantata. Et iterum for two contralti and bass is in the highly figurative concerted style, with an accompaniment of four trombones, or viole da braccio, surely to indicate the instruments that shall sound on the day of the Last Judgment.