Tutte le bocche belle (Claudio Monteverdi)

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  • (Posted 2022-03-13)  CPDL #68395:        (LilyPond)
Editor: Allen Garvin (submitted 2022-03-13).   Score information: Letter, 4 pages, 87 kB   Copyright: CC BY NC
Edition notes:
  • (Posted 2014-04-22)  CPDL #31746:       
Editor: Peter Rottländer (submitted 2014-04-22).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 105 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Original key.
  • (Posted 2014-04-22)  CPDL #31747:       
Editor: Peter Rottländer (submitted 2014-04-22).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 112 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Transposed a fourth down according to chiavette. Still suitable for SSATB.
  • (Posted 2011-02-26)  CPDL #23197:        (MuP)
Editor: Vincent Carpentier (submitted 2011-02-26).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 52 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: MUP file is zipped.

General Information

Title: Tutte le bocche belle
Composer: Claudio Monteverdi
Lyricist: Filippo Alberti

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SSATB
Genre: SecularMadrigal

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1590 in Il secondo libro de madrigali a cinque voci (Claudio Monteverdi), no. 8
Description: 

External websites:

Original text and translations

Italian.png Italian text

Tutte le bocche belle
in questo nero volto ai baci sfida
la mia nemica infida.
Restanvi i baci impressi,
quasi amorose stelle
nel vago oscuro velo
onde s’amanta il cielo.
O, perchè non poss'io cangiarmi in lui?
Ch’intorno a gli occhi miei
per mille baci mille stelle avrei.

English.png English translation

My faithless enemy
dares all beautiful mouths
in this black face to a kiss.
Kisses are left stamped,
like loving stars
on the beautiful black veil
that the sky now dons.
O, why can't I become the sky?
For then I'd have around my eyes
a thousand stars for a thousand kisses.

Translation by Campelli
French.png French translation

Mon ennemie perfide
défie toutes les bouches belles
de ce visage noir à l'embrasser.
Les baisers restent imprimés,
comme étoiles amoureuses
sur le beau, sombre voile
dont se recouvre le ciel.
O, pourquoi ne puis-j'en prendre la place?
Car, enfin, autour de mes yeux j'aurais
milles étoiles pour mille baisers.

Translation by Campelli