Firstpublished:1564 in Thesaurus Musicus (1564), Volume 3, no. 48 Description: Published by Berg & Neuber, Nuremberg, 1564. A lament on the death of the publisher Berg, whose firm published it.
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Original text and translations
Latin text
Pierides moesto suffundite lumina fletu,
et quos cantandi sedulus urget amor,
Montanus gelida nam morte solutus obivit,
edens utilibus vivida scripta typis.
Fovit hic Aonidas, faciles huic praebuit aures
Phoebus, ubi cantu res peragenda fuit.
Omnibus hos studiis, hos arte iuvabat et aere,
harmonicis quorum mens erat apta modis.
German translation
Pieriden, benetzt mit traurigem Weinen die Augen,
auch alle, die eifrige Liebe zum Gesang drängt,
denn vom kalten Tod erlöst, ist Montanus gestorben,
der mit nützlichen Lettern lebendige Schriften herausgab.
Er hegte die Musen, für ihn hatte ein offenes Ohr
Apollo, sooft es durch Gesang etwas vorzutragen gab.
Mit allem Eifer, mit Kunst und Metall erfreute er jene,
deren Geist passend war für harmonische Musik.
English translation
Pierides, weep sad tears,
as should all who feel the urge to sing, moved by their ardent love,
for Berg has been released by cold death: he breathes no more
who used to publish lively writings with the aid of useful type.
He cherished the Muses; Apollo had an open ear for him
whenever there was something to be sung.
With enthusiasm, art and metal, he gave pleasure to those
whose minds were suited to harmonious music.
Latin text
German translation
English translation