Sfogava con le stelle (Claudio Monteverdi)

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• (Posted 2013-06-19)  CPDL #29441:       

Editor: Peter Rottländer (submitted 2013-06-19).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 136 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Revision 1.1: Spelling errors corrected (thanks to Pothárn Imre)

Last revised: 2014-01-03

• (Posted 2013-01-30)  CPDL #28176:         

Editor: Gerd Eichler (submitted 2013-01-30).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 86 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Usage of mensurstrich, original note values and key signature, clefs modernized, musica ficta clearly marked.

Last revised: 2013-07-25

• (Posted 2009-01-18)  CPDL #18797:      (Finale 2009)

Editor: Kurt Pages (submitted 2009-01-18).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 102 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Source: original printing Venice 1603. – The falsobordone are not transformed in rhythm.

• (Posted 2003-04-08)  CPDL #04729:  PDF, MIDI & Overture files

Editor: John Kilpatrick (submitted 2003-04-08).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 58 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Correction to lyrics, March 2008: "inferno" replaced by "infermo".

General Information

Title: Sfogava con le stelle
Composer: Claudio Monteverdi
Lyricist: Ottavio Rinuccini (doubted, see discussion)

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

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1603 in Il quarto libro de madrigali a cinque voci (Claudio Monteverdi), no. 4
Description: 

External websites:

• English poetical translations of the Fourth Book of Monteverdi's Madrigals (Quarto libro dei madrigali).

Original text and translations

Italian text Sfogava con le stelle un infermo1 d’amore sotto notturno cielo il suo dolore. E dicea fisso in loro: «O imagini belle de l’idol mio ch’adoro, sì com’a me mostrate mentre così splendete la sua rara beltate, così mostraste2 a lei i vivi ardori miei: la fareste col vostr’aureo sembiante pietosa sì come me fate amante». Notes Malipiero's edition had minor spelling differences that changed considerably the meaning of the text: 1inferno (more details on the talk page) 2mostrate a lei ("show her" [imperative])

English translation A lovesick man was venting to the stars his grief, under the night sky. And staring at them he said: "O beautiful images of my idol whom I adore, just as you are showing me her rare beauty while you sparkle so well, so also demonstrate to her my living ardour: by your golden appearance you'd make her compassionate, just as you make me loving."

Portuguese translation Confessava às estrelas um enfermo de amor, sob o noturno céu, a sua dor. E, fitando-as, dizia: «Oh belas imagens da idolatrada minha que adoro, assim como a mim mostrais, quando assim resplandeceis, a rara beleza dela, assim também mostrai a ela meus vívidos ardores: fareis dela, com vosso dourado semblante, piedosa, assim como me fazeis amante». Translation by Carlos Augusto Mourão

German translation Es klagte den Sternen ein Liebeskranker unter nächtlichem Himmel seinen Schmerz. Und er sagt bei ihrem Anblick: „O schöne Abbilder meines Idols, das ich anbete. Wie ihr mir, während ihr so glänzt, ihre seltene Schönheit zeigt, so zeigt ihr meine lodernde Leidenschaft. Ihr würdet sie mit eurem goldenen Schein mitleidsvoll machen – so wie ihr mich zum Liebenden macht.“ Translation by Kurt Pages

Spanish translation Desfogaba con las estrellas un enfermo de amor bajo el cielo nocturno su gran dolor, y decía fijando la mirada en ellas: "Oh, imágenes bellas del ídolo mío que adoro, así como a mí me mostráis, con vuestro resplandor, su rara belleza, de la misma manera mostradle los vivos fuegos de mi pasión. Gracias a vuestra sublime apariencia se volverá tierna tal como me habéis vuelto enamorado".

Czech translation Žaloval hvězdám nemocný láskou, pod noční oblohou jim vyzpíval svou bolest a upíraje k ním svůj pohled, pravil: Jste jako krásné obrazy té, jíž se klaním. Kéž byste mohly, tak jako zrcadlíte její vzácnou tvář, ukázat jí vroucí plamen, který mne spaluje! A potom zlatým svým leskem soucit v ní zažehnout, tak, jako ve mně probouzíte lásku.

Dutch translation

Een man, ziek van de liefde, luchtte zijn pijn
Tot de sterren onder de nachtelijke hemel.
Hij sprak, strak naar hen starend:
"O mooie beelden van mijn idool van wie ik hou,
Zoals jullie haar zeldzame schoonheid aan mij tonen,
Terwijl jullie daar zo schijnen,
Toon ook zo aan haar mijn levende hartstocht:
Maak haar genadig met jullie gouden gelaat,
Ja, zoals jullie mij tot minnaar hebben gemaakt.

Translation by Dirkjan Horringa