Tirsi, che fai così dolente (Andrea Gabrieli)

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(Posted 2021-03-22) CPDL #63655:

Editor: Gerhard Weydt (submitted 2021-03-22). Score information: A4, 11 pages, 225 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Tirsi, che fai così dolente
Composer: Andrea Gabrieli
Lyricist:

Number of voices: 8vv Voicing: SAAT.ATTB
Genre: Secular, Madrigal

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1587 in Concerti di Andrea et di Giovanni Gabrieli, no. 2.61
2nd published: 1588 in Gemma musicalis liber primus (Friedrich Lindner), no. 6
Description:

External websites:

Original text and translations

Gabrieli calls this a dialogue, and arranges the voices appropriately for the first eight lines, but lines 7 and 8 do not fit that pattern, it is difficult to imagine that Thyrsis should address the unnamed nymph here, as in lines 3 and 4, especially as he a explicitly names a “pastor”. It’s also difficult to see who is speaking to whom in the following lines; in addition, it’s singular, but Gabrieli uses all voices.

Italian text

Tirsi, che fai così dolente a l’ombra
Di queste frondi trapassando l’hore?
Candida Ninfa mia, dolce mio core,
Non vedi il ciel di quanto mal n’ingombra?
Ahi, che mi doglio anc’io, et ho già ingombra
L’alma di tema, e perd’ogni vigore.
E tu, Nobil, che fai? Temo Pastore
Del mal che qui s’aggira, è qui n’adombra.
Uscir Ninfe desio d’ogni duol fuora:
Ma sì mi noc’al cor veder languire
Ne bei vostr’occh’amor, ch’io più sospiro.
Pur il bel lume, ch’in si dolce giro
Fiammeggia, mi consola, e mi fa dire:
Gioite meco, e con quest’altre ancora.

German translation

Thyrsis, was verbringst du so traurig im Schatten
dieser Blätter die Zeit?
Meine unschuldige Nymphe, mein süßes Herz,
siehst du nicht, dass der Himmel von so viel Übel eingenommen wird?
Ach, auch mich bekümmert es, und ich habe schon
eine von Furcht erfüllte Seele, und ich verliere alle Kraft.
Und du, Edelmütige(r), was tust du? Ich fürchte, o Schäfer,
mich vor dem Bösen, das hier umgeht, es ist das, was hier alles verdunkelt.
Herauszukommen, ihr Nymphen, wünsche ich aus allem Leiden;
aber derart betrübt es mein Herz, das Verlangen zu sehen
nach Liebe in euren schönen Augen, dass ich noch trauriger bin.
Doch das schöne Licht, dass in so süßem Antlitz
flammt, tröstet mich, und lässt mich sagen:
Freut euch mit mir, und auch mit diesen anderen.

Translation by Gerhard Weydt

English translation

Thyrsis, why do you while away the hours
dolefully in the shadow of these leaves?
My innocent nymph, my sweet heart,
don’t you see the sky darkened by so much evil?
Alas, I too am distressed, and already my soul
is filled with fear, and I loose all vigour.
And you, noble-minded, what do you do? I fear, shepherd,
the evil that lurks here, it’s what overshadows us.
To escape, nymphs, from all suffering is what I wish,
but, yes, it grieves my heart to see languishing
love in your beautiful eyes, so that I am still sadder.
But the beautiful light that blazes in such a sweet face
consoles me, and causes me to say:
Rejoice with me, and with these others, too.