{"id":88909,"date":"2021-02-17T07:37:35","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T05:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=88909"},"modified":"2021-02-17T07:37:35","modified_gmt":"2021-02-17T05:37:35","slug":"happy-is-the-man-and-the-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/happy-is-the-man-and-the-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Is The Man – And The Music"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), Beatus Vir (\u201cHappy Is The Man\u201d)<\/span><\/p>\n

Monteverdi is one of the most admired figures in the history of music, and signifies the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque. He was central in the birth of the modern opera, and the \u201cvocal concerto.\u201d He transformed an old and conservative style into a new and daring one. The vitality of his creations, which still speak to the listener today are due in large part to the lack of dogmatism and an openness to fascinating combinations of different styles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1640 Monteverdi had achieved advanced age, and honor. He had his position at the basilica of San Marco, in Venice, and returned to writing groundbreaking operas, which are still performed to this day. That year he published an especially large collection of liturgical music that he had composed in a number of different genres, including for many psalms, which are an integral part of his festive \u201cvespers\u201d compositions. There are several settings for Dixit Dominus (Ps. 110), Confitebor (111) and also several for Ps 112 – Beatus Vir. There are those who see this collection as the Vespers of 1640, as opposed to the very elaborate Vespers of the Blessed Virgin from 1610, which had been composed at the end of his lengthy stay in Mantua.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Beatus Vir piece from this collection, presented here, is one of his best known works, which was performed often even after his death. The composition is written for a choir of six voices (or soloists), two violins and basso continuo. The call: \u201cHappy is the man\u201d is oft repeated throughout the work as a sort of chorus, and becomes etched in one\u2019s memory.<\/span><\/p>\n

Between these repetitions, the verses of the psalm appear in order, mostly in duets, with the entire choir being heard only in the chorus. Between the verses there are duets for the violins which provide great energy for the piece. All these elements are heard against the background of the walking bass, that repeats itself like any contemporary pop song. Liturgical music often sounds heavy and serious, whereas here, Ps. 112 praises the pious individual with light and joyous harmonies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It turns out that Monteverdi borrowed his material for Beatus Vir from an earlier canzonetta for two voices and two violins and bass, named \u201cChiome d’oro\u201d (Tresses of Gold), from 1617. You can listen to that lovely seduction song <\/span>here. <\/span><\/a>That clip has the lyrics in English, and you will notice that they have very little in common with Psalms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Claudio Monteverdi, Beatus Vir, 2009<\/span><\/p>\n

The Taverner Choir and Consort (on Period-Instruments)
\n<\/span>Andrew Parrott<\/span><\/p>\n

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