Giuseppe VerdiGiuseppe Verdi

1813-19011813-1901

BackgroundBackground

► Born October 10Born October 10thth, 1813 in Roncole, Italy, 1813 in Roncole, Italy► Father Carlo Verdi, “inkeeper”Father Carlo Verdi, “inkeeper”► Mother Luigia Uttini, “spinner”Mother Luigia Uttini, “spinner”► Middle class- landowners and tradersMiddle class- landowners and traders► He was first introduced to music at age four by He was first introduced to music at age four by

local priestslocal priests► In 1831 he moved in with musician Antonio Barezzi In 1831 he moved in with musician Antonio Barezzi

and began giving singing and piano lessonsand began giving singing and piano lessons► Married Barezzi’s daughter, MargheritaMarried Barezzi’s daughter, Margherita► Had two children with Margherita:a daughter, Had two children with Margherita:a daughter,

Virginia and a son, Icilio RomanoVirginia and a son, Icilio Romano► 1838 both children die from pneumonia1838 both children die from pneumonia

BackgroundBackground► The death of his wife in 1840 and of his two children two The death of his wife in 1840 and of his two children two

years earlier resulted in his first composition which was years earlier resulted in his first composition which was 6 mournful songs6 mournful songs

► 1868 Verdi meets Italian poet Allessandro Manzoni1868 Verdi meets Italian poet Allessandro Manzoni► Verdi went on to take different companions but never Verdi went on to take different companions but never

remarriedremarried► 1874 finishes the Requiem which he wrote for 1874 finishes the Requiem which he wrote for

Allessandro Manzoni. The Requiem is preformed in Allessandro Manzoni. The Requiem is preformed in Milan, exactly one year after Manzoni’s deathMilan, exactly one year after Manzoni’s death

► Continued composing and revising various operasContinued composing and revising various operas► 1901 Verdi suffers a fatal stroke and dies on January 271901 Verdi suffers a fatal stroke and dies on January 27thth

► His funeral was preformed without music or singing as a His funeral was preformed without music or singing as a result of Verdi’s wishesresult of Verdi’s wishes

WorksWorks

OperasOperas

Verdi is mostly known for his 28 operas Verdi is mostly known for his 28 operas including, Nabucco, Aida and Macbeth in including, Nabucco, Aida and Macbeth in 18471847

Church Music Church Music

The most famous of his works include the The most famous of his works include the Requiem, the Quattro pezzi sacri (Four Sacred Requiem, the Quattro pezzi sacri (Four Sacred Pieces) and the Ave Maria sulla scala Pieces) and the Ave Maria sulla scala enigmaticaenigmatica

The RequiemThe Requiem

The Roman Catholic Funeral MassThe Roman Catholic Funeral Mass• meaning “Grant them eternal rest, O Lord”meaning “Grant them eternal rest, O Lord”• completed in 1874 to mark the 1completed in 1874 to mark the 1stst anniversary anniversary

of the death of Italian poet and novelist, of the death of Italian poet and novelist, Allessandro Manzoni also referred to as the Allessandro Manzoni also referred to as the Manzoni RequiemManzoni Requiem

• the Requiem was first preformed in Milan one the Requiem was first preformed in Milan one year after Manzoni’s deathyear after Manzoni’s death

• While most considered him a genius some While most considered him a genius some critics thought the Requiem was too operaticcritics thought the Requiem was too operatic

Structure of the WorkStructure of the Work

1.1. Requiem and Kyrie Eleison (chorus, Requiem and Kyrie Eleison (chorus, soloists)soloists)

2.2. Dies IraeDies Irae

3.3. Offertorio (soloists)Offertorio (soloists)

4.4. Sanctus (double chorus)Sanctus (double chorus)5.5. AGNUS DEI AGNUS DEI (soprano, mezzo-soprano, (soprano, mezzo-soprano,

chorus)chorus)

6.6. Lux Aeterna (mezzo-soprano, tenor, bassLux Aeterna (mezzo-soprano, tenor, bass

7.7. Libera Me (soprano, chorus)Libera Me (soprano, chorus)

AGNUS DEIAGNUS DEI

Prayer to Jesus, to the Lamb Prayer to Jesus, to the Lamb of Godof God

Text &TranslationText &TranslationAgnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of worldLamb of God, who takes away the sins of world

miserere nobismiserere nobis

have mercy on ushave mercy on us

Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundiAgnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of world Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of world

dona nobis pacemdona nobis pacem

grant us peacegrant us peace

Did you know???Did you know???

The Agnus Dei was introduced in the The Agnus Dei was introduced in the Mass by Pope Sergius (687-701), Mass by Pope Sergius (687-701), which may have been a defiant act which may have been a defiant act against the Byzantine empire against the Byzantine empire (Constantinople), who ruled that Christ (Constantinople), who ruled that Christ shall not be depicted as an animal. shall not be depicted as an animal. The Agnus Dei, like the Credo, was one The Agnus Dei, like the Credo, was one of the last things to be added to the of the last things to be added to the Mass Ordinary. (Green)Mass Ordinary. (Green)

Behind the MusicBehind the Music

• Uses strong rhythms, moving Uses strong rhythms, moving melodies and dramatic melodies and dramatic contrastscontrasts

• Strives to express the powerful Strives to express the powerful emotions created by the textemotions created by the text

•The most angelic of the piecesThe most angelic of the pieces

• Preformed by female soloists in Preformed by female soloists in combination with the choir combination with the choir

BibliographyBibliography

Green, Aaron. Classical MusicGreen, Aaron. Classical Music

Retrieved April 17, 2006Retrieved April 17, 2006

http://www.classicalmusic.about.com/od/theordinaryofthttp://www.classicalmusic.about.com/od/theordinaryofthemass/f/agnusdeihistory.htmhemass/f/agnusdeihistory.htm

Lawson, Anne. VerdianaLawson, Anne. Verdiana

Retrieved April 11, 2006Retrieved April 11, 2006

http://www.r-ds.com/opera/verdiana/chronology.htmhttp://www.r-ds.com/opera/verdiana/chronology.htm

Pilkington, Michael. Pilkington, Michael. RequiemRequiem. Great Britain:. Great Britain:

Novello and Company Limited, 1993Novello and Company Limited, 1993