Hor ch'io son gionto quivi (Orazio Vecchi)

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(Posted 2025-07-06) CPDL #85814:

Editor: Gerhard Weydt (submitted 2025-07-06). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 69 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Transposed down a fourth for SATB because of the chiavette used.

(Posted 2025-07-06) CPDL #85813:

Editor: Gerhard Weydt (submitted 2025-07-06). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 69 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Original pitch.

General Information

Title: Hor ch'io son gionto quivi
Composer: Orazio Vecchi
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 4vv Voicings: SSAT or SATB
Genre: Secular, Canzonetta

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1580 in Canzonette a quattro voci, libro 2 (Orazio Vecchi), no. 2
2nd published: 1588 in Gemma musicalis liber primus (ed. Friedrich Lindner), no. 60
3rd published: 1593 in Canzonette a quattro voci, no. 25
Description:

External websites:

Original text and translations

Italian text

Hor ch’io son gionto quivi
Fra questi boschi et rivi
Et quest’herbette tenere
Io vo cantar del fier fanciul di Venere.

Egli è di tal natura
che gli huomini assicura
poi fingendo di ridere
prova se ti potesse mai uccidere.

Fa che qualche Donzella
O vaga donna bella
Con parole dolcissime
Ti fa provar gravi pene amarissime.

Et con duo stretti nodi
Ti lega in mille modi
Et poi sen va fuggendoti
Et tu ti resti misero struggendoti.

German translation

Nun, da ich angekommen bin
bei diesen Wäldchen und Bächen
und zarten Pflanzen,
möchte ich singen vom wilden Sohn der Venus.

Er ist von solcher Art,
dass er die Menschen in Sicherheit wiegt,
und dann, indem er vorgibt zu lachen,
zeigt, dass er dich erschießen kann.

Er macht, dass manches Fräulein,
o hübsche, schöne Dame,
mit süßesten Reden
dich bitterste und schwere Leiden erfahren lassen kann.

Und mit zwei festen Knoten
bindet er dich auf tausend Weisen,
und dann verschwindet er,
und du bleibst elend und voller Gram zurück.

Translation by Gerhard Weydt

English translation

Now that I have arrived
amidst these woods and brooks
and tender plants,
I will sing of Venus’ wild son.

He is of such nature,
that he lulls man into a feeling of security,
then, feigning to laugh
he proves that he can kill you.

He manages that a damsel
- oh pretty and beautiful lady -
with sweetest talk
can make you experience grave and bitter pain.

And by two nodes
he will tie you in a thousand ways,
and the he vanishes
and leaves you miserable and grief-stricken.