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, |
Leoni's text
Monteverdi's text
Latin text 1:4a Nigra sum sed formosa filiae Jerusalem 2:10b Surge amica mea et veni. 2:11 Jam hiems transiit, imber abiit et recessit, 2:12a Flores apparuerunt in terra nostra, tempus putationis advenit. Dutch translation 1:4a Ik ben zwart, maar bekoorlijk, dochters van Jeruzalem, 2:10b 'Sta op, mijn geliefde, en kom, 2:11 Want de winter is voorbij, het regent niet langer, 2:12a De bloemen zijn verschenen op het veld, nu is het tijd om te snoeien. |
English translation 1:4a I am dark-skinned but comely, daughters of Jerusalem, 2:10b Arise my love and come. 2:11 For now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, 2:12a The flowers have appeared in our land, The time of pruning is come. French translation 1:4a Je suis noire mais je suis belle, filles de Jerusalem. 2:10b « Lève-toi, mon amie, et viens. 2:11 L'hiver enfin s'en est allé, la pluie nous quitte et s'éloigne, 2:12a Les fleurs ont fait leur apparition sur la terre. Le temps de la taille est venu ». |
Palestrina's text
Latin text 1:4 Nigra sum sed formosa filiae Jerusalem, sicut tabernacula Cedar, 1:5a 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. |
English translation 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. |
Praetorius's text
Latin text 1:4a Nigra sum, sed formosa, o filiae Hierusalem; 1:5 nolite me considerare quod sum sub nigra 1:6 Indica mihi, quem diligit anima mea, ubi pascas ubi cubes in meridie, ne vagari incipiam post greges sodalium tuorum. |
English translation 1:4a Dark am I, yet lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, 1:5 Do not stare at me because I am dark, for 1:6 Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock and where you rest at midday, lest I begin to wander after the flocks of your companions. |
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 2:10b surge amica mea... et veni. 2:11 Jam hiems transiit, imber abiit et recessit, 2:12a Flores apparuerunt in terra nostra, tempus putationis advenit.
1:4a Ik ben zwart, maar bekoorlijk, dochter van Jeruzalem, 2:10b 'Sta op, mijn geliefde, en kom, 2:11 want de winter is voorbij, het regent niet langer, 2:12a de bloemen zijn verschenen op het veld, nu is de tijd gekomen om te snoeien. |
English translation 1:4a I am a dark-skinned but comely daughter of Jerusalem, 2:10b arise my love and come. 2:11 For now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, 2:12a The flowers have appeared in our land; the time of pruning is come. |
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