Lasciatemi Morire Analysis
Lasciatemi morire” is the first of four pieces that make up the larger work Lamento d’Arianna. It was originally taken from Monteverdi’s second opera L’Arianna in 1608. The piece is for five voices, but in the opera, it was a recitative consisting of 70 lines of Italian text. Lasciatemi morire,
Lasciatemi morire;
E che volete voi che mi conforte
In così dura sorte,
In così gran martire?
Lasciatemi morire.
Let me die,
Let me die;
And what you would think could comfort me
In such a harsh fate,
In such a great martyrdom?
Let me die. Monteverdi uses a lot of word painting in this piece, especially on words like “morire” meaning to die. Monteverdi places a special harmonic emphasis or dissonance on this dramatic word. At one point with this
Lasciatemi morire;
E che volete voi che mi conforte
In così dura sorte,
In così gran martire?
Lasciatemi morire.
Let me die,
Let me die;
And what you would think could comfort me
In such a harsh fate,
In such a great martyrdom?
Let me die. Monteverdi uses a lot of word painting in this piece, especially on words like “morire” meaning to die. Monteverdi places a special harmonic emphasis or dissonance on this dramatic word. At one point with this