Qual fora, donna (Carlo Gesualdo)

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• CPDL #19162:  [ Sibelius 5]

Editor: Daniel Harmer (submitted 2009-04-04).   Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 35 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Sibelius file is zipped.

General Information

Title: Qual fora, donna
Composer: Carlo Gesualdo

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SATTB

Genre: Secular, Madrigal

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

Published: 1613

Description: Book 5 Madrigals, No. 6

External website(s):

• Facsimile: Partitvra delli sei libri de’ Madrigali a cinqve voci — Madrigals Books I – VI (Genoa: Giuseppe Pavoni, 1613) – large download, 70 MB, 492pp

Original text and translations

Italian text

Qual fora, donna, un dolce oimè d'Amore
Se quell'oimè che da voi tragge, ahi lasso,
Lieve dolor così m'incende il core?
Misero, a ciascun passo
Vo desiando, e so ch'indarno il bramo,
Che un dì col cor diciate: 'oimè ch'io t'amo'.

English translation by Mick Swithinbank

What purpose, lady, does a sweet sigh of love serve
if the sigh which it draws from you, alas,
so inflames my heart with welcome pain?
Wretch that I am, at each step that I take
I am filled with desire, and know it is in vain for me to hope
that one day you will say with all your heart: 'Alas how I love you'.