MONTEVERDI, CLAUDIO

baptized May 15, 1567, Cremona, Duchy of Milan died November 29, 1643, Venice Italian composer of the late Renaissance, the most important developer of the then new genre, the opera. He also did much to bring a modern secular spirit into church music. Additional reading Monteverdi's music is available in a modern collected (though not always accurate) edition in 16 volumes (some divided into several fascicules) by G.F. Malipiero (192642, reprinted c. 195067). A supplementary volume was published in 1966. Monteverdi's ample correspondence is printed in G.F. Malipiero, Claudio Monteverdi (1930); an English translation of the more important letters is contained in Denis Arnold and Nigel Fortune (eds.), The Monteverdi Companion (1968, reissued 1972). The essential documentation of his life is contained in the classic study by E. Vogel, Claudio Monteverdi (1887). Three accurate biographies in English are H.F. Redlich, Claudio Monteverdi: Leben und Werk (1949; Eng. trans. 1952, reprinted 1972); L. Schrade, Monteverdi: Creator of Modern Music (1950, reprinted 1979); and Denis Arnold, Monteverdi, rev. ed. (1975). Major Works: Secular. Operas: Seven operas of which three survive: La favola d'Orfeo (1607); Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria (1641); L'incoronazione di Poppea (1642). Also surviving, the Lamento from L'Arianna. Other dramatic works: Il ballo delle ingrate (1608), Tirsi e Clori (1616), and La vittoria d'Amore (1641, music lost), three ballets; Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda (1624), a secular oratorio. Madrigal collections: Canzonette a tre voci, libro primo (1584); seven books of madrigals (15871619); Madrigali guerrieri et amorosi . . . (1638), eighth book of madrigals; Madrigali e canzonette . . . (1651), ninth book of madrigals, published posthumously; Scherzi musicali (1607, 1632). Sacred. Collections: Sacrae cantiunculae tribus vocibus (1582); Madrigali spirituali a quattro voci (1583); Sanctissimi Viriginis Missa senis vocibus ad ecclesiarum choros ac Vesperae . . . (1610), which includes Missa da capella a sei voci . . . and Vespro della Beata Vergine . . . ; Selva morale e spirituale (1640); Messa a quattro voci et Salmi, a una, due, tre, quattro, cinque, sei, sette & otto voci . . . (1650, published posthumously).