Se son quest' occhi tuoi (Orazio Vecchi)

Music files

**L E G E N D**
ICON	SOURCE
	Pdf
	Mp3
	MusicXML
	Capella
	Web Page
	File details
	Help

(Posted 2023-12-06) CPDL #77892:

Editor: Gerhard Weydt (submitted 2023-12-06). Score information: A4, 2 pages, 60 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Original pitch and note values. All four stanzas underlaid.

(Posted 2004-05-25) CPDL #07093:

Editor: Rolf Maeder (submitted 2004-05-25). Score information: Letter, 1 page, 50 kB Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Previously hosted on external site. Uploaded to CPDL server 2007-11-24.

(Posted 2002-06-28) CPDL #03739: PDF, MIDI and NoteWorthy Composer files available.

Editor: Marco Gallo (submitted 2002-06-28). Score information: A4, 1 page, 19 kB Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: listed alphabetically by composer.

General Information

Title: Se son quest' occhi tuoi
Composer: Orazio Vecchi

Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Canzonetta

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1590 in Canzonette a quattro voci, libro 4 (Orazio Vecchi), no. 9
2nd published: 1593 in Canzonette a quattro voci, no. 74
Description: The subtitle says that this is an answer to 'Chi mira gl'occhi tuoi' from Vecchi's first book of canzonette à 4.

External websites:

Original text and translations

Italian text

Se son quest’occhi tuoi,
Perché sospiri poi?
Non sai ch’io di te vivo
E ogn’altro amant’ho a schivo?

Mercè de tuoi bei rai
Per cui legata m’hai,
E mi vedrai morire
Senza dolor sentire?

Ma se pur vuoi ch’io mora,
Moriam nell’istess’hora,
C’havrò gioia infinita,
morendo gustar vita.

Tu fammi gratia, Amore,
E abbreviam poi l’hore,
Che par sia la sorte
Fra noi, e in vita, e in morte.

German translation

Wenn das deine Augen sind,
warum seufzt du dann?
Weißt du nicht, dass ich nur dir lebe
und jeden anderen Liebhaber verschmähe?

Gnade für deine schönen Augen,
mit denen du mich gefangen hast,
und würdest du mich sterben sehen,
ohne Kummer zu empfinden?

Aber wenn du doch wolltest, dass ich sterbe,
dann stürbe ich gleich diese Stunde,
denn ich hätte unendliche Freude,
sterbend das Leben zu genießen.

Du erweist mir Gnade, Amor,
und verkürzt so die Stunden,
damit gleich sei das Schicksal
zwischen uns, sowohl im Leben, als auch im Tod.

Translation by Gerhard Weydt

English translation

If that be your eyes,
why then do you sigh?
Don’t you know that I live only for you,
and disdain all other lovers?

Have mercy for your beautiful eyes,
by which you caught me,
and would you behold me dying
without feeling any grief?

But if you still wished that I should die,
then I would die instantly,
for I would have infinite joy
to enjoy life while dying.

You accord me grace, Love,
and thus shorten the hours,
such that fate be equal
among us, in life as well as in death.

Translation by Gerhard Weydt