Nigra sum sed formosa
Works with this title quote several different selections of words from the Song of Songs, (with additional text in italics), used in devotions for the Virgin Mary.
Settings by composers
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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
1:4a Nigra sum sed formosa filiae Hierusalem, 2:10b Surge, amica mea et veni, 2:14 Ostende mihi faciem tuam, sonet vox tua in auribus meis, vox enim tua dulcis, et facies tua decora. |
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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