Basis in Aeneid, poem by ancient Roman poet Virgil
Librettist: Nahum Tate
Characters: Dido, Aeneas, Belinda, and Sorceress
Summary: Aeneas, Trojan prince, and Dido, widowed queen of Carthage, fall in love, but Aeneas is tricked by a sorceress and witches who compel Aeneas to leave Dido and sail to Italy. He leaves her and Dido commits suicide upon his departure and her death is grieved by a chorus of sorrowful cupids.
Act III, final scene
through composed, c minor, 4/4, Largo, sung by Dido
recitative secco, word painting, no metrical pulse, no repitition of text (LAMENT)
Aria: When I am laid on earth
Passacaglia: continuous variation with the basis on the ground bass (5 measures)
g minor, 3/2, Largo, sung by Dido, (LAMENT, before she kills herself)
Descending chromatic ground bass- Venetian
4-part string accompaniment
Scottish snap- (short-long)- English
Tension between Dido's melodic line and the rigid bass.
Chorus: With Drooping wings
Through composed, G minor, 4/4, Andante, Mixed Chorus, sung by cupids (comment on action)
Colla Parte- strings double the voice part (Baroque)
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