La Verginella (William Byrd)

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• CPDL #4675:

Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2003-03-23).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 118 kbytes    Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Revised Jan 09

General Information

Title: La Virginella
Composer: William Byrd

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

Language: Italian
Instruments: a cappella
Published: Psalmes, sonets, & songs... (1588), no.24

Description: Byrd's setting of this and the following stanza in English may be found at The fair young virgin

External websites:

Original text and translations

Italian text

La virginella è simil’ alla rosa,
ch’in bel giardin sula nativa spina,
Mentre sola è sicura si riposa,
Ne gregge, ne pastor se le avicina:
L’aura soave & l’alba rugiadosa,
L’acqua, la terra, al s’uo favor s’inchina:
Giovani vaghi, e donn’ inamorate,
Amano haverne è seni e tempie ornate.

Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1535): Orlando Furioso, Canto I, stanza 42

English translation

The fayre yong Virgin is lyke the rose untaynted,
in garden fayre while tender stalke doth beare it,
sole and untoucht, with no resort acquainted,
No shepherd nor his flock doth once come neare it,
th’ayre full of sweetnesse, the morning fresh depainted,
the earth, the water, with all theyr favours cheare it,
daintie yong gallants, and ladyes most desired,
delight to have therewith their heads and breasts attyred.

as set by Byrd in Musica Transalpina (1588)