Nigra sum sed formosa
Works with this title quote several different selections of words from the Song of Songs, used in devotions for the Virgin Mary.
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Original texts and translations
Lhéritier's text
Latin text 1:4a Nigra sum sed formosa filiae Jherusalem Dutch translation 1:4a Ik ben zwart, maar bekoorlijk, dochters van Jeruzalem. |
English translation 1:4a I am black but comely, daughters of Jerusalem, |
Victoria's text
In this setting the Biblical plural 'filiae' is replaced with the singular: this can also be found in some Gregorian-chant sources and is not a misprint. At the same time, it replaces a vocative with a nominative and designates the Virgin Mary herself as a daughter of Jerusalem.
Latin text 1:4a Nigra sum sed formosa filia Jerusalem Dutch translation 1:4a Ik ben zwart, maar bekoorlijk, dochter van Jeruzalem, |
English translation 1:4a I am a dark-skinned but comely daughter of Jerusalem, |
Palestrina's text
Song of Solomon 1:4–5a
Latin text 1:4 Nigra sum sed formosa filiae Jerusalem, sicut tabernacula Cedar, 1:%a Nolite me considerare quod fusca sim, quia decoloravit me sol. Filii matris meae pugnaverunt contra me, posuerunt me custodem in vineis. Dutch translation 1:4 Ik ben zwart, maar bekoorlijk, dochters van Jeruzalem, zwart als de tenten van Kedar, 1:5a Maar denk niet dat ik zwart ben, mijn huid werd verkleurd door de zon. De zonen van m'n moeder hebben tegen me gestreden, lieten me de wijngaarden bewaken. |
1:4 I am black but beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Cedar, 1:5a Do not think that I am dark, for the sun has changed my colour. My mother's sons fought against me; they made me keeper of the vineyards. |
Monteverdi's text
Latin text 1:4a Nigra sum sed formosa filiae Jerusalem Dutch translation 1:4a Ik ben zwart, maar bekoorlijk, dochters van Jeruzalem, |
English translation 1:4a I am dark-skinned but comely, daughters of Jerusalem, French translation 1:4a Je suis noire mais je suis belle, filles de Jerusalem. |
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