Da le perle (Claudio Merulo)

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(Posted 2022-11-05) CPDL #71441:

Editor: Gerhard Weydt (submitted 2022-11-05). Score information: A4, 5 pages, 147 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Original note values. Transposed down a fourth for SATTB because of the chiavette used.

(Posted 2022-11-05) CPDL #71440:

Editor: Gerhard Weydt (submitted 2022-11-05). Score information: A4, 5 pages, 147 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Original pitch and note values.

General Information

Title: Da le perle
Composer: Claudio Merulo
Lyricist: Pietro Gradenigo^{create page}
Number of voices: 5vv Voicing: SSATB
Genre: Secular, Madrigal

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1577 in Il primo ﬁore della ghirlanda musicale a cinque voci (ed. Giovanni Battista Mosto), no. 1
2nd published: 1584 in Spoglia amorosa (Scotto) – part 1 only, no. 10
3rd published: 1592 in Spoglia amorosa (Gardano) – part 1 only, no. 18
Description: A three-part canzon.

External websites:

Original text and translations

Italian text

Da le perle e rubini¹
Di cui più bel thesoro Amor non have
Tra suoi più ricchi alberghi pellegrini,
Spireva aura odorifera, e soave
Quando un bacio involai
Da la più bella bocca, che fu mai.

¹: a common image for the teeth and lips

German translation

Von den Perlen und Rubinen,
dergleichen einen schöneren Schatz selbst Amor nicht besitzt
in seinen reichsten und wertvollsten Kammern,
atmete ich einen wohlriechenden und süßen Hauch,
als ich einen Kuss stahl
vom schönsten Mund, den es je gab.

Translation by Gerhard Weydt

English translation

From the pearls and rubies,
of which Love himself don’t posses a finer treasure
in his richest and precious chambers,
I inhaled an odourous and sweet breath,
when I stole a kiss
from the most beautiful mouth there ever was.