Si Dolce è ´l Tormento by Claudio Monteverdi Acoustic Guitar - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.561560

An arrangement of Monteverdi´s beautiful madrigal for acoustic guitar that wanders through a number of repetitions in various keys. Someone once asked me whether it really makes any difference what key a melody is played in. We notice here that the melody takes on slightly different characters in the different keys. There are also a few slight alterations in the different versions that keep the piece from becoming overly repetitive, but no drastic changes to the melody itself. The melody moves in a modal vein and does not fall clearly in either a major or minor key. It is an intriguingly simple melody with many repetitions of the same note. However, the harmonies under the note shift slightly during the repetitions giving raise to an impression of movement in the stillness. The arrangement closes with a paraphrase of the first section of melody played in natural harmonics in various places on the fretboard. I have given fingerings for the left hand in various places together with hints about which string to play and where on the fretboard the left hand should be. I refrain from giving details about the right hand leaving this to the individual preferences of the performer. Anyone capable of playing the piece well, will for sure find their own fingerings for the right hand. The first repetitions of the melody are within reach of most advanced to intermediate guitarists. The final section including the natural harmonics, however, demand quite advanced command of barré together with stretching in the higher positions. As the piece moves at a very modest pace these challenges should probably not be insurmountable for the well-trained guitarist. This short but hauntingly beautiful piece is perfect as an encore following a program of longer pieces for classical guitar.