Ancide sol la morte (Carlo Gesualdo)

Music files

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

(Posted 2018-09-04) CPDL #51185:

Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2018-09-04). Score information: A4, 4 pages, 71 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Reformatting of #5361, with corrections to the underlay.

(Posted 2003-07-28) CPDL #05361:

Editor: Vincent Carpentier (submitted 2003-07-28). Score information: A4, 4 pages, 380 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: revised May 28, 2004.

Possible error(s) identified. See the discussion page for full description.

General Information

Title: Ancide sol la morte
Composer: Carlo Gesualdo

Number of voices: 5vv Voicing: SSATB
Genre: Secular, Madrigal

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1611 in Madrigali a 5 voci, libro sesto, no. 15
Description:

External websites:

Facsimile: Partitvra delli sei libri de’ Madrigali a cinqve voci — Madrigals Books I – VI (Genoa: Giuseppe Pavoni, 1613) – large download, 70 MB, 492pp

Original text and translations

Italian text

Ancide sol la Morte,
e tu, mio core, che la vita sei,
uccider non mi puoi
col dolce colpo
de’ begli occhi tuoi.
Io, morendo per te, lieto morrei
se ferita mortale
uscir potesse
da beltà vitale.

English translation

Only Death can kill,
and you, my heart, who are life,
cannot kill me
with the gentle blow
of your fair gaze.
Were I to die for you, I would die happy,
if a mortal wound
could be dealt
by life-giving beauty.

Translation by Campelli