Biographies
- Schrade, Leo. Monteverdi: Creator of Modern Music.New York: Norton,
- 348p. Reprint, New York: Da Capo, 1979. ML410 .M7 S37.
A scholarly life story, the first important biography in English, which helped to
bring about the Monteverdi revival. It has little about the music except for a
useful background chapter on Orfeo. Bibliography of about 150 entries, index
of names, titles, and topics. - Fabbri, Paolo. Monteverdi. Trans. Tim Carter. New York: Cambridge U.P.,
- 350p. ISBN 0-521-35133-2. ML410 .M77 F2.
Originally in Italian (Turin: EDT, 1985). The English edition is rather con-
densed, being primarily a documentary life story; the Italian original (460p.)
had stronger discussions of the music. Useful review of the literature on Mon-
teverdi from the 17th century on. Worklist, bibliography, name index. - De’ Paoli, Domenico. Monteverdi. Milan: Rusconi, 1979. 592p. ML410 .M77
P35.
A well-documented life and works, with useful background chapters on the
Italian madrigal, the Camerata, and music at St. Mark’s basilica. Detailed
worklist, chronology of Monteverdi’s life, maps, photographs of important
locations, and other pictorial material. The compositions are discussed in non-
technical style, with musical examples. Bibliography, title index, name index. - Leopold, Silke. Claudio Monteverdi und seine Zeit.Laaber: Laaber, 1982. 368
p. ISBN 3-9215-1872-5. ML410 .M77 L5.
A fine biography with emphasis on the music, which is carefully described.
Useful chronology of Monteverdi and the period, bibliography, name index. - Redlich, Hans F. Claudio Monteverdi: Life and Works.Trans. Kathleen Dale.
New York: Oxford U.P., 1952. 204p. Reprint, Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, - ISBN 0-8371-4003-X. ML410 .M77 R432.
Originally Claudio Monteverdi: Leben und Werk(Olten: Otto Walter, 1949).
There are new chapters in the English version and other expansions and revi-
sions. The book is an important contribution by a major scholar on the com-
poser. In addition to biography and description of the works, there is guidance
for modern performances and editions. Backnotes, worklist, chronology, bibli-
ography, name index. - Tomlinson, Gary. Monteverdi and the End of the Renaissance. Berkeley: U. of
California Press, 1987. xii, 280p. ISBN 0-520-05348-6. ML410 .M77 T7.
A useful background treatment of the Italian cultural scene, with writings of
numerous scholars of the time presented. Monteverdi’s life and works are
placed in that context, the compositions taken in chronological order, and
evaluated. Title index, general index.
See also New Grove Italian Baroque(#2459).
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