Le canzonette a cinque voci di Carlo Gesualdo

The Gesualdo’s ‘canzonette a 5 voci’, All’ombra de gl’allori e Come vivi cor mio, are the subject of this paper. They were printed posthumouses at the end in Pomponio Nenna’s Ottavo Libro de’ Madrigali a Cinque (Rome, 1618).

The two pieces (only complete example of ‘canzonette’ gesualdiane that have achieved to us) they have put in report with the ‘villanelle-canzonette’ of Sigi­smondo D’India «nobile palermitano», he musically also has formed in Naples, which had dominate by Jean de Macque and by composers of the Prince’s entourage.

These compositions are analysed from point of view both in metric and structural manners, and care their formal and tonal aspect. It has put in relief similes and differences, and at the some time, it has highlighted the character of ‘miniaturization’ of the madrigal, in the sign of a greater simplicity and lightness structural.