Dear list,
As I mentioned in my introductory message, I am working on a dissertation
about Palestrina's spiritual madrigals. The text he chose for his second
volume of works (1594) in this genre is a thirty-strophe poem in ottava
rima entitled "Priego alla B. Vergine." Surprisingly, this text and its
musical setting has received scant attention; the only comments I've seen
about the poem is that it's anonymous, and a paraphrase of the Litany of
Loreto. Incidentally, the texts Palestrina chose for his 1581 book of
spiritual madrigals were by Petrarch (the "Vergine bella" cycle) and
Leonardo Giustinian ("O Jesu dolce" and "Spirito Sancto, amor").
The entire poem is too long to send here, so I'll include a few
representative strophes, with a translation below each line (prepared by a
friend and me--improvements are welcome). I would be interested to know
whether any of you know of commentaries on this text. Also, where do you
think it was written, in what time period, and what do you think of the
quality of the writing? Your observations and suggestions for resources
would be appreciated.
1.
Figlio immortal d'immortal padre e figlio
Immortal son of immortal father, and
Mortal di mortal madre e Dio superno
mortal son of mortal father and God on high
Et huom che morto per divin consiglio
and man, who dying by divine decision
De la morte trionfi e de l'inferno
triumphs over death and hell,
Volgi pietoso a me volgi quel ciglio
Turn towards me that pious eye,
Ond'ha 'l mondo ad ogn'hor legge e governo
which always legislates and governs the world:
Mentre de' falli miei che tanti sono
whereas of my failures, which are so manifold,
Chieggo per la tua Madr' a te perdono.
I ask you for forgiveness through your Mother.
2.
E se mai voci di qua giu` son grate
And if ever the voices down here are pleasing
A le menti immortali e pellegrine
to immortal and pilgrim minds,
E se a` le cose fragili e create
and if ever lofty and divine lights
S'affisan mai le luci alte e divine,
gaze down upon things frail and created,
Almi spirti del ciel queste serrate
benign spirits of the sky, open these
Labbia aprite a sue lodi e petto e crine
locked lips to his praise my breast and my locks
Di vivo allor d'aita e celest'opra
with living laurel, and with aid and heavenly work.
Pietosa vostra man mi cinga e copra.
May your pious hand gird and cover me.
17.
Tu di fortezza torre e torre eburna
You tower of strength and tower of ivory
Che contra ogni mortal colpa e difetto
that against every mortal sin and defect
Fosti viva serbata e morta in urna,
were kept alive and dead in an urn
Sì che mai verme non ti offese il petto
so that never a worm offended your breast
Ne` mai di veder Dio cieca e notturna
nor ever from seeing God a blind and nocturnal
Nube s'oppose a l'alto tuo intelletto,
cloud kept your high intellect,
Fa ch'io, se ben mortal, non mi sommerga,
grant that I, although mortal, may not be sunk down
Ma per te verso te m'impenni & erga.
but through you I may gain wings and rise towards you.
19.
Vello di Gedeon cui Dio sì largo
Gideon's fleece, to whom God was so generous
Fu de le gratie sue divine e sante
with his divine and holy graces,
Deh pria che con mortifero letargo
Alas before with a deadly sleep
Mi preman gli occhi le mie colpe tante
my many sins press my eyes
Il pianto c'hor da le mie luci spargo
the tears that now I am shedding from my eyes
A l'alta sede de le sacre piante
bring to the high See of the sacred soles
Del Monarca del ciel lieto appresenta,
of the Monarch of Heaven
Si ch'ad eterno ben mi dolga e penta.
so that I may grieve and repent before the eternal good.
21.
E questo spirto de la propria sede
And this spirit has already fallen from its seat
Scacciato già dal senso empio e tiranno.
because of wicked and impious sensuality.
Hor che di santo amor caldo e di fede
Now that with warm holy love and with faith
Del suo dominio affetta il proprio scanno
his own footstool is supported by his rule
Trono di Salomon dàlli che 'l piede
O Throne of Solomon, grant that it may turn its foot
A le tue vie ch'al ciel dritte sen vanno
and grow into your ways that go straight to heaven,
Rivolga e formi onde di vile Ancella
so that from being a humble maid-servant
L'alma Signora si riponga in sella.
the soul may get back up in the saddle again as a lady.
If any of you would be kind enough to look at the translation I have for
the entire poem, to suggest corrections to awkward or incorrect
interpretation, I would happily send the text to you.
Thank you very much.
Kirin Nielsen
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