C'est malheur
from Doulce mémoire by Mignarda
-
Streaming + DownloadIncludes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.Purchasable with gift card
$1 USD or more
-
Buy the Full Digital Album
about
Attributed to Jean-Baptiste Besard (c.1567 – c.1625), this air is found in the large anthology of music for the lute, Thesaurus Harmonicus, published in 1603. The book contained a small collection of airs de cour for solo voice and lute, some of which appeared later in the large collection of airs published by Ballard. C'est malheur was very likely composed much earlier, and the 1603 version likely represents Besard's attempt at an interesting accompaniment for the lute,—which was, like most of his work, riddled with errors.
The melody to C'est malheur may have a familiar ring to those acquainted with the 20th-century Ancient Airs & Dances suites by Ottorino Respighi (1879 – 1936), who made a specialty of arranging and orchestrating old lute music, much of which was collected, edited and published by guitarist and musicologist Oscar Chilesotti (1848 – 1916). Chilesotti's Da un Codice Lauten-Buch del Cinquecento and Lautenspieler des XVI. Jahrhunderts, both published circa 1890, contained music that in many ways first initiated the 20th-century lute revival.
The orchestrated version of C'est malheur appears in Respighi's Third Suite as the first in a group of six airs de cour, all selected from Besard's 1603 anthology.
The melody to C'est malheur may have a familiar ring to those acquainted with the 20th-century Ancient Airs & Dances suites by Ottorino Respighi (1879 – 1936), who made a specialty of arranging and orchestrating old lute music, much of which was collected, edited and published by guitarist and musicologist Oscar Chilesotti (1848 – 1916). Chilesotti's Da un Codice Lauten-Buch del Cinquecento and Lautenspieler des XVI. Jahrhunderts, both published circa 1890, contained music that in many ways first initiated the 20th-century lute revival.
The orchestrated version of C'est malheur appears in Respighi's Third Suite as the first in a group of six airs de cour, all selected from Besard's 1603 anthology.
lyrics
C'est malheur que de vous aymer
Vostr'esprit estant si volage
Vous changés enfin que la mer
E si changés sans avantage
Que me sert il d'aymer un temps
C'est le mieux que de vous j'attens
Je ne seray jamais la paix
Je m'en repens pour tous jamais.
Rompons la paille pour tousjours
Et que chascun rende son gage:
]e vous vendz voz folles amours,
Et vous quitte l'humeur volage:
Rendes moy de vostre costé
La raison et la liberté
Je ne seray jamais la paix
Je m'en repens pour tous jamais.
Rendés ce cueur qui n’est plus mien,
Rendés ce que vous fait si belle
Non belle ne me rendes rien,
Il suffit que vous soyes telle.
Par mes vers aussi mensongers,
Que vos beaux yeux furent légers.
Je ne seray jamais la paix
Je m'en repens pour tous jamais.
It is misfortune to be in love with you,
your character is so flighty.
You change like the sea,
and if you change without improving
what good will it serve to love but once?
It is the most I hope for from you.
I shall never be at peace,
I shall grieve for ever.
Let us sever our links for ever
and each return his token:
I return to you your mad love,
and leave you your flighty temper:
Return to me at your expense,
my sanity and liberty.
I shall never be at peace,
I shall grieve for ever.
Return this heart, which is no longer mine,
return that which makes you so beautiful:
No, Beauty, return nothing,
it is enough that you are so;
that according to my lying verses,
your beautiful eyes should be light.
I shall never be at peace,
I shall grieve for ever.
English translation by Donna Stewart.
Vostr'esprit estant si volage
Vous changés enfin que la mer
E si changés sans avantage
Que me sert il d'aymer un temps
C'est le mieux que de vous j'attens
Je ne seray jamais la paix
Je m'en repens pour tous jamais.
Rompons la paille pour tousjours
Et que chascun rende son gage:
]e vous vendz voz folles amours,
Et vous quitte l'humeur volage:
Rendes moy de vostre costé
La raison et la liberté
Je ne seray jamais la paix
Je m'en repens pour tous jamais.
Rendés ce cueur qui n’est plus mien,
Rendés ce que vous fait si belle
Non belle ne me rendes rien,
Il suffit que vous soyes telle.
Par mes vers aussi mensongers,
Que vos beaux yeux furent légers.
Je ne seray jamais la paix
Je m'en repens pour tous jamais.
It is misfortune to be in love with you,
your character is so flighty.
You change like the sea,
and if you change without improving
what good will it serve to love but once?
It is the most I hope for from you.
I shall never be at peace,
I shall grieve for ever.
Let us sever our links for ever
and each return his token:
I return to you your mad love,
and leave you your flighty temper:
Return to me at your expense,
my sanity and liberty.
I shall never be at peace,
I shall grieve for ever.
Return this heart, which is no longer mine,
return that which makes you so beautiful:
No, Beauty, return nothing,
it is enough that you are so;
that according to my lying verses,
your beautiful eyes should be light.
I shall never be at peace,
I shall grieve for ever.
English translation by Donna Stewart.
credits
from Doulce mémoire,
released September 3, 2021
Donna Stewart, voice
Ron Andrico, lute
Recorded at the Lava Room, Beachwood, OH
Engineer, Chris Ebbert
Bass lute by Sandi Harris and Stephen Barber
Donna Stewart, voice
Ron Andrico, lute
Recorded at the Lava Room, Beachwood, OH
Engineer, Chris Ebbert
Bass lute by Sandi Harris and Stephen Barber
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
Mignarda Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Mignarda specializes in thoughtful programming illuminating the vibrant mingling of renaissance music & poetry. Noted for awakening modern audiences to an appreciation for historical music, their work encompasses concertizing, teaching & recording, with 17 critically-acclaimed CDs, a series of 16 music editions, scholarly articles, reviews and the internationally-popular blog, Unquiet Thoughts. ... more
discography
-
Jun 2022 -
Sep 2021 -
Apr 2021 -
Nov 2020
contact / help
If you like Mignarda, you may also like:
-
Moments Remixes
by Michael Vincent WallerThere’s a quiet beauty to this remix album of compositions by Michael Vincent Waller, with contributions from JLin, Prefuse 73, & more.
go to album -
Thinking of Blue Almonds Part One
by Lou Lyne & the Blue Almond ProjectSomber, beautiful string meditations abound on the debut album by Oxford cellist and composer Lou Lyne and her ensemble.
go to album -
Ki moun ou ye
by Nathalie JoachimVocalist, flutist, and composer blends traditional instrumentation with jazz-inflected neoclassical arrangements.
go to album -
Diaries: Schumann
by Tiffany PoonComprising 32 takes on iconic Robert Schumann compositions, the emergent pianist's Pentatone debut is a must-hear for classical fans.
go to album -
A gorgeous project that explores the intersections of neoclassicism, folk, ambient and electronic textures.
go to album -
The Seasons Are Not Four
by Alex KozobolisA meditative set of free-flowing piano improvisations from the English/Greek composer.
go to album -
Minimalist modern classical that captures the slowly unfolding beauty of post-rock groups like Rachel’s.
go to album
