Affection

In my last blog post I wrote about how music had changed from the 9^th through the 16^th centuries. Music began its history in the church, slowly changing by the incorporation of rhythmic modes and polyphony. As it expanded, music began measuring itself in terms of time. We then see its departure away from symbolisms in rhythm and the use of plainchant as a foundation, toward a new appreciation for text. Music clothes itself in language, giving rise to the practice of text painting. As mannerisms arose in this practice, notably in the music of Gesualdo, music began to look for new meaning. The dawn of the 17^th century and its new philosophy of rationalism enabled music find its new mantra- affect. While composers from the late 15^th through 16^th centuries sought to mimic the text of their music, 17^th century convention sought to penetrate further into the mind of the listener. Instead of painting a picture with sound, this new music aimed to give rise to certain emotions and kindle a particular mindset. Music’s purpose was to make the listener feel a certain way. To create this experience, composers had to look beyond poetic imagery of texts and into the manner in which the speaker of the poem might deliver it. Or, as Monteverdi said himself, “make the words the mistress of the harmony and not its servant”.

“When I am Laid in Earth” from Henry Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas is a definitive example of this new kind of music. By using a chromatically descending ostinato as the foundation, Purcell constructs a hauntingly beautiful melody for soprano that awakens deep emotions. In the recitative particularly, his use of chromatics in the vocal line pierces the ears of listeners, communicating the despair experienced by Dido. This occurs in m. 2 (darkness) and m. 6 (death). I am particularly drawn to Lorraine Hunt Lieberson’s recording of this aria. Her tone, while clear and light, carries a weight of honesty and depth that illicit despair. She does a brilliant job cultivating the affect Purcell and other 17^th century composers strived for in their music.