Quam pulchra es et quam decora

General information

There is a small but distinct number of settings using the same adaptation (abbreviation and re-ordering) of a passage from the Song of Solomon: Ch. 7, vv. 4-7,11,12. The opening phrase [O] Quam pulchra es has an unfortunate portmanteau rôle in other settings of S.o.S., for which this page is not intended, being evidenced on their peculiar workpages.

Notes on selected settings

• Johannes Lupi SATB (omits "si flores fructus parturierunt")

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• Noel Bauldeweyn — Quam pulchra es  Latin SATB
• John Dunstable — Quam pulchra es  Latin ATB
• Johannes Lupi — Quam pulchra es  Latin SATB
• David Palladius — Quam pulchra es  Latin SSATTB
• John Pyamour — Quam pulchra es  Latin ATB
• Gaspar van Weerbeke — Quam pulchra es  Latin SATB

Texts and translations

Latin text 7:6 Quam pulchra es et quam decora carissima in deliciis (tuis) 7:7 Statura tua assimilata est palmæ, et ubera tua botris 7:5  Caput tuum ut carmelus. 7:4  Collum tuum sicut turris eburnea. 7:11  Veni dilecte mi; egrediamur in agrum(/hortum) 7:12  Et videamus si flores fructus parturiunt, si floruerunt mala punica. Ibi dabo tibi ubera mea. Alleluia.

English translation 7:6  O How fair and lovely art thou, my darling, in (your) pleasures? 7:7  Thy stature is like a date tree, and thy breasts like the grapes. 7:5  The head that standeth upon thee is like Carmel 7:4  Thy neck is as it were a tower of ivory 7:11  O come on my love, let us go forth in to the field(/garden) 7:12  and go see if the grapes be grown and if the pomegranates be shot out. There will I give thee my breasts. Alleluia Myles Coverdale, 1535