Mercy in Monteverdi
A great example of the connection between chromaticism and suffering in Reformation-era music. In Laudate Dominum (primo) Monteverdi abruptly starts employing the painful-sounding half-steps on the word misericordia, Latin for “mercy” (1:19-1:34 and 1:47-2:21).
Probably Strauss or Stravinsky would think it was just childish word-painting, but it gets me every time. Gorgeous stuff. He does similar things in his setting of the Magnificat (primo). (3:55-4:48)