This edition was prepared by Peter Rottländer — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Amor che deggio far
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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3 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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Amor che deggio far by Claudio Monteverdi — Lyrics
Amor che deggio far
se non mi giova amar con pura fede?
Servir non vo’ così,
piangendo notte e dì per chi no’l crede!
E non si può veder
l’amoroso pensier da l’occhio umano?
Dunque un fido amator
dovrà nel suo dolor languir invano?
Intesi pur talor
che ne la fronte il cor si porta scritto;
or, come a me non val
scoprir l’interno mal nel volto afflitto?
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About Amor che deggio far
Claudio Monteverdi's Amor che deggio far is a prime example of the Italian madrigal, a secular genre that flourished in the Renaissance. Written for a four-part choir of sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses (SSTB), the piece explores the composer's characteristic blend of harmonic innovation and expressive text setting. The lyrics lament the suffering of a lover whose sincere devotion seems unacknowledged. The singer questions the fairness of a love that causes such pain, asking why true feelings cannot be recognized and why a faithful heart must languish in silence. The music likely reflects these sentiments through intricate vocal lines and rich harmonies, typical of Monteverdi's masterful approach to word painting.
