Qual fora, donna (Carlo Gesualdo)
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- 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'.