This edition was prepared by Allen Garvin — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Cor mio, non mori? E mori!
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
Preview
0
0
4 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
Subscribed as
Want Sunday picks sent to another address too?
Free weekly email
Your choir should not be left out in what's trending
Sunday mass selections, psalms, and trending songs in your area — straight to your inbox.
Cor mio, non mori? E mori! by Claudio Monteverdi — Lyrics
Cor mio, non mori? E mori!
L'idolo tuo, ch'e tolto a te,
Sia tosto in altrui braccia accolto.
Deh, spezzati mio core!
Lascia con l'aura anco l’ardore;
Read full lyrics
About Cor mio, non mori? E mori!
Monteverdi's Cor mio, non mori? E mori! is a striking example of secular Italian madrigal writing for SATTB voices. The text expresses a desperate plea for the heart to die, following the departure of a loved one. The narrator urges their heart to break, to release its passion, and to cease existing without hope or aid. The music would have been composed for intimate, sophisticated gatherings of singers and listeners, typical of Renaissance courts and aristocratic homes. It demands expressive vocal control to convey the intense emotional turmoil of the lyrics, from anguish to resignation, culminating in a final farewell. This is vibrant, dramatic part-music.
