Dear Steve,
congrats for getting an opportuninty to play in one of the greatest
compositions ever composed!
On Tue, 24 Jan 2006, Steve Ramey wrote:
> Looks like I have the opportunity to play lute with a local
> university's go at Monteverdi's Lamento d' Arianna in a couple months.
> The music says it's for mixed chorus, a cappella, but the fellow putting
> it together has mentioned accompanying the singers with a small organ
> (organetto?) and lute. The chorus there consists of about eight or nine
> folks, half students and half community members; they'll need all the
> help we can give them.
My advice:
1) First read the partiture: analyse the harmony of the sung music
("chords") in the strong beats, long notes and strong words of the
text. And write the continuo numbers below the staffs. 6'ths, 4-#3's,
etc. (You _must_ know what I mean... :-)
2) Check your harmonizations by singing the top voice (that may vary)
with your chords.
3) Make your chords simpler! Monteverdi's music loves the clashes between
the (florid) melodies and the more simply continuo.
4) Take care that all your important cadences end in major: The
(possible) change back to minor is essential!
5) Tune well...
Well, that could be continued for ever...
Good luck! And be brave!
Arto
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