Cosa non vada più (Orazio Vecchi)

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(Posted 2024-07-13) CPDL #81325:

Editor: Gerhard Weydt (submitted 2024-07-13). Score information: A4, 2 pages, 65 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Cosa non vada più
Composer: Orazio Vecchi
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 4vv Voicings: SSAT or SATT
Genre: Secular, Canzonetta

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1580 in Canzonette a quattro voci, libro 1 (Orazio Vecchi), no. 8
2nd published: 1588 in Gemma musicalis liber primus (ed. Friedrich Lindner), no. 57
3rd published: 1593 in Canzonette a quattro voci, no. 7
Description:

External websites:

Original text and translations

The beginning of the text is identical to the second part of a sonnet by Pietro Bembo used by Philippe de Monte in Correte, fiumi, a le vostre alte fonti; the common section is too long to be a mere coincidence, but the continuation is quite different.

Italian text

Cosa non vada più come solea,
Poi che quel nodo sì possente e forte
Rotto spezzato sento,
Ond’hor vivo contento.

Amor scalda Leon, Tigri e serpenti,
Ma com’è spenta quell’ardenta fiamma,
Più non si sente mai
Ne martello ne guai.

Che se durasse sempre questo foco,
Ica sarei che con le finte piume
Ardendo caderei,
Ove presto morrei.

Sprezzami pur se sai, Donna crudele,
Già tempo fu ch’a me fosti più cara
Che gli occhi e che la vita;
Hor la cosa è finita.

German translation

Es ist nicht mehr so, wie es zu sein pflegte,
weil ich diese so starke und mächtige Fessel
zerstört und gebrochen empfinde,
deshalb lebe ich nun zufrieden.

Amor hetzt auf Löwen, Tiger und Schlangen,
aber da jene heiße Flamme erloschen ist,
ist nichts mehr zu spüren
von Leidenschaft noch Kummer.

Denn wenn dieses Feuer anhielte,
wäre ich Ikarus, der mit gefälschten Flügeln
brennend niederstürzte,
wo er alsbald stürbe.

Verachte mich, wenn du kannst, grausame Dame,
einst warst du mir teurer
als die Augen und das Leben;
nun ist das Ganze erledigt.

Translation by Gerhard Weydt

English translation

It isn’t any longer as it used to be,
because I feel those strong and heavy fetters
to be ruined and broken,
whence I now live contently.

Amor agitates lions, tigers and serpents,
but since that ardent fame is now extinct
nothing is left
of passion or distress.

If this fire would still persist,
I would be Icarus, who with fake wings
would fall down burning
and die at once.

Disdain me, if you can, cruel lady,
once you were dear to me more
than the eyes or my life;
now all is finished and done.