The excerpt I chose to analyze is titled "Tu Se' Morta" from the opera Orfeo written by Claudio Monteverdi in 1607. This piece's utilization of a minor key contributes to its melancholy feeling of sorrow and loss. The vocal melody in this excerpt is embellished by the basso continuo making this piece homophonic. The dissonance created between the vocalist and the accompaniment leaves the listener acutely aware of the emotional distress experienced by the main character Orpheus. In this song, Orpheus has just learned of the death of his love interest Eurydice. The song begins in a state of shock as Orpheus comes to grips with the death of his beloved. He then transforms his shock and sorrow into action by vowing to rescue Eurydice from
