Vorrei che tu cantassi una canzone

General information

The solmization syllables (as well as the rest of the text, consequently) carry a second (erotic) meaning. The overall idea should be made clear by the rendering of the solmization texts. Details may be found in Leofranc Holford-Strevens, Fa mi la mi so la: The Erotic Implications of Solmization Syllables, in: Eroticism in Early Modern Music, edited by Bonnie. J. Blackburn & Laurie Stras, Ashgate Publishing. The relevant pages 48 – 50 were available via Google Books at he time of writing. The title is cited by Orlando di Lasso in his famous O la, o che bon eccho!, but with no musical connection to the works of Azzaiolo, Scandello, Le Jeune.

Notes on selected settings

• Filippo Azzaiolo SATB; verse 1 - 2
• Claude Le Jeune SATT or ATTB; verse 1, 3 - 4
• Antonio Scandello SATB; only first verse

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• Filippo Azzaiolo — Vorrei che tu cantassi una canzone  Italian SATB
• Claude Le Jeune — Vorria che tu cantassi  Italian SATT
• Antonio Scandello — Voria che tu cantass' una canzone  Italian SATB

Texts and translations

Italian text Vorrei/Vorria che tu cantassi una canzone, Vorrei/Vorria che tu cantassi una canzone, quando mi stai sonando la viola. E che dicessi fa mi la mi so la1. Vorrei lo basso far co'l violone, Tutto di contrapunto alla spagnuola. E che dicessi fa mi la mi so la1. Vorria tocassi sempre di bordone, Sonando sol re fa, non sol fa so la2, E che dicessi fa mi la mi so la1. Ch'io cantaria per accordar con tene, Dolce conforto mio, caro mio bene, Tutta la notte la sol fa re mi re3. 1fammila mi sola 2solo re, fa, non so l(o) fa(re) sola 3la sol(a) farem’ire / la sol(e) fare mi re

German translation Ich möchte, dass du ein Lied singst, während du mir die Viola spielst und dass du sagst: mach es nur mir allein. Ich möchte den Bass spielen mit dem Violone, ganz mit Kontrapunkt nach spanischer Weise, und dass du sagst: mach es nur mir allein. Ich möchte, dass du immer den Bordun /Pilgerstab greifst, indem du spielst: einziger König, mach es, ich kann es nicht alleine, und dass du sagst: mach es nur mir allein. Dann sänge ich mit dir in gleicher Stimmung, mein süßer Trost, meine Allerliebste, die ganze Nacht werden wir nur das betreiben / … pflegt das mein König zu tun. Translation by Gerhard Weydt

English translation I would like you to sing a song, while you are playing the viola for me, and you to say: do it only to me. I’d like to play the bass with the violone, all with counterpoint in the Spanish way and you to say: do it only to me. I’d like you to always handle the bourdon/pilgrim’s staff while sounding: only king, do it; I cannot do it alone. and you to say: do it only to me. Then I’d sing in harmony with you, my sweet comfort, my dearest one, all the night long we will only pursue that / … my king is used to do that. Translation by Gerhard Weydt