Morir non può il mio core

General information

This text was first set to music by Maddalena Casulana, then by Giovanni Maria Nanino, and subsequently by several other composers, who probably followed Nanino, according to Anthony Newcomb in a 2013 article discussing texts and patronage of Nanino's first book of madrigals for five voices.

Lyricist: Benedetto Pannini ?

External websites:

• 2013 article by Anthony Newcomb

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• Maddalena Casulana — Morir non può 'l mio core  Italian SATB
• Antonio Cifra — Morir non puo'l mio core  Italian SSATB
• Luzzasco Luzzaschi — Morir non puo'l mio core  Italian SATTB
• Bernardino Mosto — Morir non puo il core  Italian SATTB
• Giovanni Maria Nanino — Morir non puo'l mio core  Italian SSATB

Text and translations

Italian text Morir non puo'l mio core, E ucciderlo vorrei poi che vi piace, Ma trar non si puo fuore, Dal petto vostro ove gran tempo giace, Et uccidendol' io come desio, So che morreste voi morend' anch' io.

English translation My heart cannot die: and yet, to please you, I want it to. But it can’t be ripped from your breast where it has lived so long, and if I were to end it—as I want to— I know my death would be your death too. Translation by Nicholas Jones