WOW. This was written in the 17th century? That harmony is boss. And you know a composer is making a bold move when she starts the piece with that enticingly uncommon and creepy-sounding augmented second. Gives me the chills!!
English Translation: My tears, why do you hold back? Why do you not let burst forth the fierce pain that takes my breath and oppresses my heart? Lidia, whom I so much adore, Because she looked on me with a pitiable glance is imprisoned by her strict father. Between two walls the beautiful innocent one is confined, where the sun’s ray can't reach her; and what grieves me most, and adds torment and pain to my agony, is that my beloved suffers on my account. And you, sorrowful eyes, you don't cry? My tears, why do you hold back? Alas, I yearn for Lidia, my idol whom I so much adore; she's captured in hard marble, she for whom I sigh and yet do not die. Because I welcome death, now that I'm deprived of hope; Ah, take away my life, I pray to you, my bitter pain. But well I realize that to torment me even more Fate denies me even death. Since it's true, oh God, that vicious Destiny thirsts only for my wailing, My tears, why do you hold back?
'Lagrime mie' ... a cantata, composed by Barbara Strozzi (1619 - 1677) in the 1650s. She was one of the most important women composers of the 17th Century and was especially well-known as a composer of cantatas.
Barbara Strozzi 1619 - 1677 an Italian singer and composer. ... Giulio Strozzi, a poet and librettist, recognised Barbara as his adopted daughter. She was most likely the illegitimate daughter of Strozzi and Isabella Garzoni, his long-time servant and heir ... her father arranged for her to study with composer Francesco Cavalli. ...Strozzi was "the most prolific composer - man or woman - of printed secular vocal music in Venice in the Middle of the century ... She was renowned for her poetic ability as well as her compositional talent. ... Strozzi’s music evokes the spirit of Cavalli, heir of Monteverdi. ...WIKI
My God, this is the most heavenly song i ever heard. and her voice, an angel...her ornaments are perfect, the therbo was beautiful, many thanks for posting.
:) I find myself singing the part that starts at 4:18. The whole thing is gorgeous, tough. I might post one more version of this work if not a few. :) But this one is the one I love the most.
I bag you pardon: I was sure you know: I was just jokeing. This kind of cadenzas surprised me too, but now I'm use to them and i can't no longer hear that bluesy flavour you talk about. It's interesting to listen to music from a "wrong" point of view... we modify past thank to our knowldege of all happend in between today and Monteverdi's era. I needed years to properly listen to phrigian cadenzas instead of listening them as suspended dominant chords...
Lagrime mie, à che vi trattenete? Perché non isfogate il fier dolore Che mi toglie'l respiro e opprime il core? Lidia, che tant'adoro, Perch'un guardo pietoso, ahi, mi donò, Il paterno rigor l'impriggionò. Tra due mura rinchiusa Sta la bella innocente, Dove giunger non può raggio di sole; E quel che più mi duole Ed' accresc'al mio mal tormenti e pene, È che per mia cagione Provi male il mio bene. E voi, lumi dolenti, non piangete? Lagrime mie, à che vi trattenete? Lidia, ahimè, veggo mancarmi L'idol mio che tanto adoro; Sta colei tra duri marmi, Per cui spiro e pur non moro. Se la morte m'è gradita, Hor che son privo di spene, Dhe [deh], toglietemi la vita, Ve ne prego, aspre mie pene. Ma ben m'accorgo che per tormentarmi Maggiormente la sorte Mi niega anco la morte. Se dunque è vero, o Dio, Che sol del pianto mio Il rio destino ha sete, Lagrime mie, à che vi trattenete? Sebastiano Baldini
despite this, using baroque pitch for italian music from this particular period is not usually done - most recordings I have heard of monteverdi are done at written pitch, or sometimes venetian pitch, which is a semitone higher than modern pitch at 466 Hz
Someone asked about another example of the walking bass line in Baroque, here's a fabulous example : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tfDZmr2GcG0.html&lc=UgyDUbpOBNM7nEwFPJV4AaABAg
