Quand'io son tutto (Cipriano de Rore)

Music files

L E G E N D

Disclaimer

How to download

ICON	SOURCE
	Pdf
	MusicXML
	LilyPond
	Zip file
	File details
	Help

• (Posted 2020-04-08)  CPDL #57903:    (MIDI)    

Editor: Pothárn Imre (submitted 2020-04-08).   Score information: A4, 7 pages, 158 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Transcribed from 1552 Gardano edition, two obvious errors corrected. Original key (chiavi naturali) and note values. Alto is in transposed violin clef.

General Information

Title: Quand'io son tutto
Composer: Cipriano de Rore
Lyricist: Francesco Petrarca

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SATTB
Genre: Secular, Madrigal

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1542 in Il primo libro de madrigali a cinque voci, Edition 1, no. 4
    2nd published: 1544 in Il primo libro de madrigali a cinque voci, Edition 3, no. 10
Description: Two-part madrigal:
I. Quand'io son tutto volto
II. Così davanti ai colpi

Original text and translations

Italian text

Quand’io son tutto volto in quella parte,
Ove ’l bel viso di madonna luce,
Et m’è rimasa nel pensier la luce,
Che m’arde e strugge dentro a parte a parte,

I’, che temo del cor che mi si parte,
Et veggio presso il fin de la mia luce,
Vomene in guisa d’orbo senza luce,
Che non sa ove si vada, et pur si parte.

Così davanti a i colpi de la morte
Fugo, ma non si ratto, che ’l desio
Meco non venga, come venir sole.

Tacito vo, che le parole morte
Farian pianger la gente: et i’ desio
Che le lagrime mie si spargan sole.
Petrarca, Canzoniere 18
 

English translation

When I am all turned toward that place
where my lady’s fair face shines,
and in my thoughts remains the light
that burns and melts me within, bit by bit,

I, since I fear for my heart, which is breaking,
and see at hand the end of my life,
take my leave like a blind man without sight,
who does not know where he goes, and yet departs.

And so before the blows of death
I flee, but not so quickly that desire
does not come with me, as it is used to.

Silent, I go; for my words of death
would make people weep, and I desire
that my tears be shed in solitude.