Ecco, Signor il Tebro (Baccio Moschini)

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• (Posted 2005-09-17)  CPDL #09676:        (Finale 2000)

Editor: Sabine Cassola (submitted 2005-09-17).   Score information: A4, 2 pages, 100 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Copyright (c) 2005 SMC

General Information

Title: Ecco, Signor il Tebro
Composer: Baccio Moschini

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

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1539 in Musiche fatte nelle nozze dello illustrissimo Duca di Firenze (Francesco Corteccia), no. 10
Description:  The madrigal was composed for the 1539 wedding of Cosimo de’ Medici (ruler of Florence) and Eleanora da Toledo. It is in the voice of the River Tiber (mythologically, the father of the city of Rome). The premise is that Florence, the child of Rome, will with this marriage have so much prosperity that it will equal Rome. The reference to his noble daughter, Rome, holding the reins and the bridle, is a reference to the recent wars and scandals involving the Papacy.

Original text and translations

Italian text Ecco, signor, il Tebro, ecco; ecch’il Tebro, signora, ad honorarvi, Cosmo e Leonora. Se la mia nobil figlia a quanto gir’il sol con la sua sphera pos’il fren’et la briglia, questa che di lei nacque per voi spera non men di lei di ricchie spoglie ornase et superb’ et’ altera sovra l’altr’ inalzarse ond’al pari del Tebro et Rom’ anchora n’andra la fam’ al ciel d’Arn’ et di Flora.

English translation Behold, my lord, the Tiber; my lady, behold the Tiber, [coming] to honor you, Cosimo and Leonora! If my noble daughter [Rome], as long as the sun turns in its orbit, handles the reins and the bridle [i.e, keeps control], this one [Florence], born of her [Rome], hopes through you [Cosimo and Leonora] to be ornamented no less sumptuously than her [Rome], and, proud and noble, to rise above others, so that, just like the Tiber and Rome, the fame of the Arno and of Florence will rise to the heavens. Translation by Nicholas Jones