Se la mia morte brami (Carlo Gesualdo)

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• (Posted 2024-05-18)  CPDL #80688: 

• Original key (high chiavette):        

• Transposed down a fourth:       - Quinto and Alto in transposed violin clef.

Editor: Pothárn Imre (submitted 2024-05-18).   Score information: A4, 3 pages, 81 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Transcribed from 1616 partbooks, with two exceptions. In the Canto in m. 57-58 the 1616 edition binds the E flat to the E natural, and divides the following D semibreve into two minims. Since, however, all the recordings I have sing different syllables to the E flat and the E natural and sing a semibreve D, I assume this is how the piece is in the first edition, so I adopted this reading. The situation is the same in the Quinto in m. 61-62. Also here I adopted the reading of the recordings. Further the source I used does not indicate the repeat but writes out the same music twice. In order to save paper for the performers I used repeat signs.

• (Posted 2018-08-26)  CPDL #51008:         

Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2018-08-26).   Score information: A4, 3 pages, 67 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Reformatting of #5001, transposed down an tone.

• (Posted 2003-05-09)  CPDL #05001: 

Editor: Vincent Carpentier (submitted 2003-05-09).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 308 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: score revised May 18, 2004.

General Information

Title: Se la mia morte brami
Composer: Carlo Gesualdo
Lyricist: Torquato Tasso

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

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1611 in Madrigali a 5 voci, libro sesto, no. 1
Description: 

External websites:

• Facsimile: Partitvra delli sei libri de’ Madrigali a cinqve voci — Madrigals Books I – VI (Genoa: Giuseppe Pavoni, 1613) – large download, 70 MB, 492pp

Original text and translations

Italian text Se la mia morte brami, crudel, lieto ne moro. E dopo morte ancor te solo adoro. Ma se vuoi che non t'ami, ahi, che a pensarlo solo il duol m'ancide e l'alma fugge a volo.

English translation If you long for my death, cruel one, happily shall I die, and after death I will still adore you only. But if you want me to stop loving you, alas, if I even think of such a thing, grief kills me and my soul takes flight. Translation by Campelli

English translation If you long for my death, you tyrant,     I’m glad to die, and after death I'll still love you alone. But if you want me not to love you,     grief does me in, and my soul escapes in flight. Translation by Nicholas Jones

German translation Wenn du meinen Tod herbeiwünschst, Grausame, sterbe ich fröhlich. und auch nach dem Tode verehre ich nur dich. Wenn du aber willst, daß ich dich nicht lieben solle, ach, allein daran zu denken tötet mich der Schmerz und die Seele enteilt im Fluge.