Spirate pur spirate - Alberto Donaudy (1880-1941), Set by Stefano Donaudy (1879-1925), from 36 Arie di Stile Antico, #10

Stefano Donaudy, born in Italy in the late 1800s, was a composer who achieved renown almost solely for his 36 Arie di Stile Antico, contained within which is Spirate, pur spirate. Stefano’s brother, Alberto Donaudy, is the main lyricist for not only this text, but most of Stefano Donaudy’s pieces. This, coupled with the fact that his father was also a minor composer, shows a talent for art that runs in the family.

Spirate, pur spirate is a song is a staple in young tenor repertoire, mainly because of the push for flexibility the song demands. The song combines sustained pitches within the upper parts of a tenor’s ranges with small runs that encompass the middle part of the tessitura, making it a great exercise/warm-up piece for anyone, but especially young tenors who can use it to become more flexible. The words reference blowing breezes ascertaining if a lover still loves the singer, and the sustained notes and runs give life to this particular motif.

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