La viva neve (Andrea Gabrieli)

Music files

**L E G E N D**
ICON	SOURCE
	Pdf
	Mp3
	MusicXML
	Capella
	File details
	Help

(Posted 2021-11-29) CPDL #66947:

Editor: Gerhard Weydt (submitted 2021-11-29). Score information: A4, 9 pages, 230 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Transposed down a minor third because of the chiavette used. Second part starts at about 2:15 in the mp3 file.

(Posted 2021-05-26) CPDL #64538:

Editor: Gerhard Weydt (submitted 2021-05-26). Score information: A4, 9 pages, 230 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Original pitch. Second part starts at about 2:15 in the mp3 files.

General Information

Title: La viva neve
Composer: Andrea Gabrieli
Lyricist: Giovanni Battista Amalteo
Number of voices: 5vv Voicing: SATTB
Genre: Secular, Madrigal

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1570 in Il secondo libro de madrigali a 5 voci, Edition 1, no. 10
2nd published: 1588 in Il secondo libro de madrigali a 5 voci, Edition 2, no. 10
Description:

External websites:

Original text and translations

Italian text

La viva neve e le vermiglie rose,
Che spegner non può mai state, nè verno,
E’l sol di duo begli occhi vago eterno,
Ove’l suo maggior seggio Amor ripose,
L’alte parole angeliche amorose,
Che mi scopron de l’alma il ben interno,
L’honesto portamento, ond’io discerno
Sott’un pensier molte virtuti ascose,
Le treccie d’or, che m’annodaro il core,
E’l sen, che tante in se bellezze accoglie,
E la speme, e’l desire, e’l riso, e’l gioco,
E la bocca, che spira un dolce odore,
E i lievi sdegni, e le tenaci voglie,
Esca m’han fatto d’invisibil foco.

German translation

Das frische Weiß und das leuchtende Rot,
das nie auslöschem kann der Sommer noch der Winter,
und die ewig anmutige Sonne zweier schöner Augen,
wo Amor seinen hauptsächlichen Sitz hat,
die engelsgleichen, lieblichen, erhabenen Worte,
die mir offenbaren das innere Gut der Seele,
das ehrbare Verhalten, wo ich erkenne
unter einem Gedanken viele versteckte Tugenden,
die goldenen Flechten, die mein Herz gebunden haben,
und der Busen, der so viele Schönheiten in sich birgt,
und die Hoffnung, und die Sehnsucht, und das Lachen, und das Spielen,
und der Mund, der einen süßen Duft atmet,
und der leichte Unmut und das hartnäckige Verlangen
haben mich zur Speise unsichtbaren Feuers gemacht.

Translation by Gerhard Weydt

English translation

The fresh white and the sparkling red,
that cannot be quenched by summer or winter,
the eternally pretty sun of two beautiful eyes,
where Love has his main seat,
the angelic, sweet, sublime words,
which reveal to me the innermost goodness of the soul,
the honest demeanour, where I discern
many virtues hidden under a thought,
the golden braids that have bound my heart,
and the bosom that contains so much beauties,
and the hope and the desire, and the laughter, and the playing,
and the mouth that breathes a sweet odour,
and the slight resentments, and the tenacious longings,
have made me tinder of an invisible fire.