Edition notes: A semidiplomatic edition with original note-values and no transposition; ficta is added but sparingly. All text underlay is editorial and the text from the song of songs have been supplied from other sources.
Edition notes: Transcribed from the Royal Danish Library manuscript KB 1872. The notes' values are as in the manuscript. The text underlay is editorial. As the manuscript was intended for the use of the Royal Danish Band, the voices with only the latin text incipit can be played on loud wind instruments. The “musica ficta” suggestions are in the MIDI and MusicXML files. The source (MusicXML) file is zipped.
Firstpublished:1534 in 121 neue Lieder (Hans Ott), no. 24 2ndpublished:1560 Royal Danish Library manuscript KB 1872 Description: In Formschneider's print the tenor is underlaid with the 1st verse while vv. 2-7 are appended at the end. The other voices have only the first phrase of the text from the Song of Songs.
External websites:
Original text and translations
For the text from the Song of songs:
Original text and translations may be found at Tota pulchra es, amica mea.
German text
Ich stund an einem morgen/
heimich an einem ort/
da het ich mich verborgen/
Ich hört klegliche wort/
von einem frewlen hübsch und fein/
sie sprach zu jrem buelen
es muß gescheiden sein.
2. Hertz lieb ich hab vernumen/
du wölst von hinnen schier/
wen wiltu wider kumen/
das soltu sagen mir/
nun merk mein feins lieb was ich sag/
mein zukunft thust mich fragen/
was weder stund noch tag.
3. Das frewlein weinet sere
Sein hertz was unmuts wol/
so gib mir weis und lere/
was ich mich halten sol/
für dich so setz ich al mein hab/
und wiltu hie bebleiben/
verzer dich iar und tag.
4. Das knab sprach aus seinem muete/
dein wil ich wol soüer/
ver zer ich dir dein guete/
ein iar wer bald hinfür/
darnach mus es gescheyden sein/
ich wil dich freundlich bitten/
setz deinen willen darein.
5. Das freulein schren laut worten/
wort yber alless leyd/
mich krenckin deine worte/
hertz lieb nit von mir scheide/
für dich setz ich gut und eer/
und solt ich mit dir ziehen/
kein weg wer mir zu ferr.
6. Da sprach der knab mit zuchten/
mein schatz ob allem gut/
ich wil dich freuntlich bitten/
schlag solchs aus deinem muet/
gedecht mer an die frerunde dein/
die dir kein arges trawen/
und telich bey dir sein.
7. Da kert er ir den rucken/
er sprach nit mer zu ir/
das freilen teth sich schmucken/
in einen winkel schier/
es weinet dz sie schier verging/
dis hat ein Schreiber gesungen/
wie es eim frewlen gieng.
English translation
I was standing one morning /
in a hidden place /
where I concealed myself/
I heard mournful words /
from a lovely maiden/
she spoke to her lover/
as he was parting from her.
2. My heart I have heard/
you are going to leave from here/
when will you return/
You should tell me that/
now my love what I say/
is that I ask of my future/
tell me the hour and the day.
3. The lady was weeping hard/
and her heart was full of woe/
Advice me and counsel me/
what should I think
for in you I put all that I have/
and are you going to stay/
or leaving for year and day.
4. The boy spoke:/
you know I am a soldier/
I will ruin your reputation/
a year goes fast/
therefore we must part/
I want to ask you kindly/
put your mind to rest.
5. The lady shouted loudly/
speaking hard words/
what you tell me makes me ill/
do not forsake me thus.
I will put you before goods and honor/
and I will go with you /
no road will be too hard for me.
6. There spoke the boy with courtesy /
my sweetheart that is good for nothing
I'll ask you please/
knock such thoughts out of your mind/
think on all your friends that you are leaving/
who think no ill of you/
and will stay with you daily.
7. And he turned his back on her/
and spoke no more to her/
the Lady did blow him a kiss/
from behind/
and her weeping ended/
And thus tells a poet/
how it was done.