The Madrigals of Don Carlo Gesualdo

Keeping in theme of music related posts, I have this little update to post. Here we have what was a paper for one of my classes last semester on the scandalous musical figure, Carlo Gesualdo. For those who are unaware, well, here is some brief knowledge on the Renaissance composer. I figured that I am starting to work on a paper for a related class this semester, I could post this in the mean time. Now there is a lot that can be added, but as I said, this is just some brief information that I hope to prove useful for whomever comes across it. I've also included my citations, which I would highly recommend reading if you find this interesting (or you yourself have a paper to write)..

Carlo Gesualdo was an infamous Italian composer from the Renaissance period.  He is most notable for the murder of his wife and her lover, as well as the excessive use of chromaticism in his music. 

Gesualdo was an aristocrat and had published his music, both of these aspects were out or the ordinary for composers of the time.  Part of the reason behind that was his music was one of the earliest examples of a complete printed score.  But from his childhood, Gesualdo was involved in music through the lute,harpsichord, and singing.

A notable aspect of his life, was that he was the only major composer of the time who did not have to write for and please a patron.  He wrote both sacred and secular music, and most notably his madrigals.

For two years,Gesualdo's wife Donna Maria d'Avalos was having a affair with Don Fabrizio Carafa, who was the Duke of Andria.  During that time Donna Marie and Don Fabrizio would allegedly bribe the servants to keep their actions secret.

After hearing rumors of his wife having an affair, Gesualdo had barged in on Donna Maria and her lover to whom he had then murdered.  The murder of the two is believed to have been part of a trap Gesualdo set up, where they would meet when they believed it to be safe.  He killed them both when catching them in the act by stabbing them multiple times followed by him ordering the public display of their naked bodies

Due to the nature of the murders, there were multiple rumors that were formed around Gesualdo.  A lot of these rumors dramatize his crime, as well as his actions after the fact.  He became a sort of legend due to the nature of his crimes.  Even to this day the nature of his crimes, and the music he composed, remains an interest to scholars. 

While he is most well known for his madrigals, Gesualdo did also write a fair amount of sacred music.  He had four books of his sacred music published, which included Sacrae Cantiones I, for five voices (1603), Tenebrae Responsories for Maundy Thursday, for six voices (1611), Tenebrae Responsories for Good Friday, for six voices (1611), and Tenebrae Responsories for Holy Saturday, for six voices (1611).

Throughout his life, Gesualdo wrote many madrigals which were originally compiled into six different books.  These books included Book I (Madrigali libro primo), for five voices (1594), Book II (Madrigili libro secondo), for five voices (1594), Book III (Madrigali libro terzo), for five voices (1595), Book IV (Madrigali libro quarto), for five voices, (1596), Book V (Madrigali libro quinto), for five voices (1611), and Book VI (Madrigali libro sesto), for five voices (1611).  Books I-IV were written in the town of Ferrara, while books V-VI were written in the town of Gesualdo.

Even with the use of chromaticism, Gesualdo manages to avoid using jumps in intervals of the tritone, diminished sixths, and sevenths.  In addition to this and the complexity of his music, he does not have many large jumps within individual lines. 

Igor Stravinsky was fascinated with Gesualdo's madrigals, l lot of which was because of the unconventional chromaticism.  When talking about Gesualdo's music, Stravinsky has said the following:

 "... as Gesualdo’s mode of expression is dramatic, highly intimate, and very much in earnest, he weights the traditional madrigal of poised sentiments and conceits, of amorous delicacies and indelicacies, with a heavy load."

Much of the text of his madrigals had very a sensual theme to the text.  Although often times madrigals in general would have this sort of theme for their text.  Some people link the sort of text used for his works, to his own actions within his life.  Specifically after the murder of his cousin who was also his first wife, during his second marriage he would apparently often cheat on his wife with others.  This would then draw a connection between his life and the sensual theme of some of his madrigals.

A distinct aspect of Gesualdo's works, a his use of chromaticism.  He would typically use chromaticism in order to highlight certain words or phrases within a piece.  As example of this is within his work “Io Parto”, which was written for five voices.  This composition uses unexpected chromaticism as well as some unusual rhythms for the time period that it was written

Within the Sacrae Cantiones the texts were chosen that often have a first person narrative, which tend to be asking God for forgiveness.  This could be interpreted as a representation of his own inner discontent. 

Gesualdo was not the only composer who used chromaticism at the time, but his use was far more extensive than other composers.  He also made use of rhythms uncommon for the time, as well as using word painting through his chromaticism to accent and bring out certain words of a piece.

• Rowland, Daniel B. Mannerism: Style and mood : An anatomy of four works in three art forms. New Haven: Elliots Books, 1964.
• Borowitz, Albert. Musical mysteries: From Mozart to John Lennon. Kent, OH: Kent State UP, 2010.
• "Don Carlo Gesualdo." Don Carlo Gesualdo - Principe dei musica. <http://www.gesualdo.co.uk/>.
• "Biography - Carlo Gesualdo (Bio 1952)." Teploff's Music Collection. <http://www.mymusicbase.ru/PPB/ppb19/Bio_1952.htm>.
• "Don Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa, Count of Conza (1561 - 1613)." Classical CD Reviews.<http://www.musicweb-international.com/gesualdo.htm>.
• Estrella, Espie. "Carlo Gesualdo: A Look Into a Brilliant Yet Troubled Mind." Music Education.<http://musiced.about.com/od/famousmusicians1/a/cgesualdo.htm>.