Volgea l'anima mia (Claudio Monteverdi)

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  • (Posted 2013-06-19)  CPDL #29442:     
Editor: Peter Rottländer (submitted 2013-06-19).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 134 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Volgea l'anima mia
Composer: Claudio Monteverdi
Lyricist: Battista Guarini

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SATTB
Genre: SecularMadrigal

Language: Italian
Instruments: a cappella

First published: 1603 in Il quarto libro de madrigali a cinque voci (Claudio Monteverdi), no. 5
Description: 

External websites:

Original text and translations

Guarini: Rime 62

Italian.png Italian text

Volgea l'anima mia soavemente
quel suo caro, e lucente
sguardo, tutto beltà tutto desire,
verso me scintillando, e parea dire:
«Damm'il tuo cor, ché non altronde io vivo.»
E mentre il cor sen vola ove l'invita
quella beltà infinita,
sospirando gridai: «Misero, e privo
del cor, chi mi dà vita?»
Mi rispos'ella in un sospir d'amore:
«Io, che son il tuo core.»

English.png English translation

She came to me in the simple dress of love,
and her eyes said, Lie with me for I
am beautiful; the breeze put down its leaves
and listened, clouds slowed, the evening blushed.
She grasped my chest then snatched her hand away
whereupon that sullen child, my self,
turned towards her face which seemed to say,
Give me your heart, I live for nothing else!
Hearing this, my heart, all needy, rushed
towards that source of loveliness and light
so that I gasped and cried out, Desperate
and without heart, who now will give me life?
Bringing me gently to her breasts she sighing
whispered, I will, for I am your heart.
Freely translated by Charles Marshall