Fermarono i cieli (Alfonso Maria de' Liguori)

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• (Posted 2015-01-01)  CPDL #33988:  Removed by request of the editor

Editor: Francesco Spiga (submitted 2015-01-01).   Score information: A4, 2 pages, 306 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Arranged by Francesco Spiga. Score removed due to a new commercial licensing.

General Information

Title: Fermarono i cieli
Alternative title: Maria contempla il SS. Bambinello che dorme
Composer: Alfonso Maria de' Liguori
Lyricist: Alfonso Maria de' Liguori

First published: 1737 in Canzoncine divote
Description: The text was first published in a 1737 collection called Canzoncine divote under the title Maria contempla il SS. Bambinello che dorme. The suspention of the celestial sphere rotation in the incipit is taken form the Infancy Gospel of James (18;2). Three different traditional melodies are associated to this poem. This one appears to be based, in the stanza, on the same ground bass of the traditional song Pigliate 'na palella (the so-called Tarantella alla carpinese: I-IV-V-I in the minor mode). The refrain comes from oral tradition and do not appear in any published work by st. Alphonsus. The apocryphal stanzas "La luce più bella

External websites:

• http://www.museoalfonsiano.it/node/51
• http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ITASA0000/_P9E.HTM

Original text and translations

Italian text Fermarono i cieli La loro armonia, Cantando Maria La nanna a Gesù. Con voce divina La Vergine bella, Più vaga che stella, Diceva così: [Dormi, dormi, fa' la ninna nanna Gesù.] Mio Figlio, mio Dio, Mio caro Tesoro, Tu dormi, ed io moro Per tanta beltà. Dormendo, mio Bene, Tua Madre non miri, Ma l'aura che spiri È fuoco per me. [Dormi, dormi, fa' la ninna nanna, Gesù.] Begli occhi serrati, Voi pur mi ferite: Or quando v'aprite, Per me che sarà? Le guance di rose mi rubano il core; O Dio, che si more quest'alma per Te! [Dormi, dormi, fa' la ninna nanna, Gesù.]

English translation The celestial spheres suspended Their harmony, While Mary was singing Lullaby to Jesus. With a divine voice The beautiful Virgin, More charming than a star, Said this: [Sleep, sleep, beddy-byes, Jesus.] My Son, My God, My dear Heart, Thou are sleeping, and I die For Thy beauty. While thou are asleep, my Love, Thou do not watch Thy Mother, But the air Thou are breathing Is like fire to me. [Sleep, sleep, beddy-byes, Jesus.] O beautiful eyes, Even if shut, you wound me: When you will be opened, What will happen to me? These rosy cheecks Steal my heart; O God, how dies My soul for Thee! [Sleep, sleep, beddy-byes, Jesus.] Translation by Francesco Spiga