O cessate di piagarmi
Music: Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)
Words: Nicola Minato (1627-1698)
O cessate di piagarmi is from the opera entitled Pompeo (1683). This aira is a lovely lament in a 6/8 time signature. The 6/8 setting gives the song a flowing feel, almost as if you’re being rowed through the canals of Venice by a gondolier. In Pompeo, Sesto, son of a Roman general, sings this aria to Issicratea who was once the queen, but is now under house arrest. Sesto’s feelings are not reciprocated by Issicratea, instead she longs to return to her husband and her homeland. There are two verses in this aria, the second is to be sung slower than the first.
Alessandro Scarlatti is often credited as being the progenitor of Neapolitan Opera, however, research has shown that in reality he was a great synthesist of styles that had preceded him. He wrote around 85 operas! In his writing, the lyric beauty of the voice is paramount. Scarlatti had two sons that were also composers, Domenico and Pietro Filippo. Domenico composed over 600 harpsichord sonatas!
Key of E Minor
Range : Major 7th : D# up to D
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Sample MP3, Piano & Melody,
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Sample MP3, Piano Only,
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E Minor Sheet Music Sample |
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Key of G Minor
Range : Major 7th : F# up to F
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Sample MP3, Piano & Melody
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Sample MP3, Piano Only,
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G Minor Sheet Music Sample |
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Key of A Minor
Range : Major 7th : G# up to G
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Sample MP3, Piano & Melody
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Sample MP3, Piano Only,
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A Minor Sheet Music Sample |
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