A unique setting of the poetry of Petrarch, this is an example of an historical reconstruction by Mignarda, creating a moving solo song by combining a rather dull strophic setting for voices with an arrangement for lute by Alberto da Ripa (c.1500 – 1551).
lyrics
O passi sparsi, o pensier vaghi et pronti,
o tenace memoria, o fero ardore,
o possente desire, o debil core,
o occhi miei (occhi non già, ma fonti);
o fronde, onor de le famose fronti,
o sola insegna al gemino valore;
o faticosa vita, o dolce errore,
che mi fate ir cercando piagge et monti;
o bel viso, ove Amore inseme pose
gli sproni e ‘l fren ond’ el mi punge et volve
come a lui piace, e calcitrar non vale;
o anime gentili et amorose,
s’ alcuna à ‘l mondo, et voi, nude ombre et polve:
deh, ristate a veder quale é ‘l mio male!
O scattered steps, O yearning, ready thoughts,
O tenacious memory, O savage ardor,
O powerful desire, O feeble heart,
O my eyes (not eyes, but fountains);
O leaves, the honor of famous brows,
O sole ensign of the twin deservings,
O laborious life, O sweet error,
which make me go seeking across shores and mountains;
O lovely face where Love has put
Both the spurs and the rein with which he rakes nd turns me as he pleases, and no kicking avails;
O noble loving souls, i there are any in the world,
and you, naked shadows and dust:
Ah, stay to see what my suffering is!
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
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