O voi che sospirate (Luca Marenzio)

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CPDL #34104:    

Editor: Allen Garvin (submitted 2015-01-03).   Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 88 kB   Copyright: CC BY NC

Edition notes: Parts and source available on IMSLP.

• CPDL #32680:  Sibelius 5

Editor: Jonathan Goodliffe (submitted 2014-08-12).   Score information: A4, 3 pages, 42 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: O voi che sospirate
Composer: Luca Marenzio
Lyricist: Francesco Petrarca

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SATTB

Genre: Secular, Madrigal

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

Published: 1581 in Il Secondo libro de madrigali a cinque voci

Description:

External websites: The source on IMSLP.

Original text and translations

Italian text

O voi che sospirate a miglior' note^[1]
ch'ascoltate d'Amore, o dite in rime,
pregate non mi sia più sorda Morte,
porto de le miserie et fin del pianto;
muti una volta quel suo antiquo stile,
ch'ogni uom attrista, et me può far sí lieto.

^[1] Petrarch's original gives notti (nights) instead of note (notes), a pun by Marenzio, on this piece which cycles through the circle of fifths.

English translation

Oh you who sigh for better notes^[1]
than you hear from Love, or speak in rhyme,
pray that Death may no longer be deaf to me,
the harbour of miseries, and the end to weeping;
let it change for once its old style,
that makes every man sad, and can make me so happy.