O del mio amato ben… - Set by Stefano Donaudy (1879-1925), Text by Alberto Donaudy (1880-1941) from 36 Arie di Stile Antico, #18

Another piece contained in the 36 Arie di Stile Antico is O del mio amato ben... This piece is an example of Donuady’s flexibility as a composer. This piece is an incredibly lyrical piece, relying heavily on the idea bel canto singing, and can best described as as beautiful cantabile melody in the voice over a lush piano accompaniment.

​This strophic piece is a piece about a lost love, and has the option to be sang about either a male or a female (with optional “lui” replacements for the masculine “lei”). This piece can be likened to the romanticism happening in France at the time, with some even going as far as to call Donaudy the “Italian equivalent of Reynaldo Hahn.” The piano texture becomes more dense towards the middle of the piece, but altogether, Donaudy wrote the piano parts to perfectly support the melody, regardless of how impassioned the lament becomes.

Stefano Donaudy - classical music composers. Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://www.pcmsconcerts.org/composer/stefano-donaudy/

Kimball, C. (2006). Song: A guide to art song style and literature. Hal Leonard. Page 438-439

Sterling Donaudy - classical music composers. Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://www.pcmsconcerts.org/composer/stefano-donaudy/