Tarquinio Merula: arias and capricci / Montserrat Figueras, Hordi Savall
Tarquinio Merula was a composer and organist active in Cremona in the 17th century. This CD contains mainly arias from his works. “Canzonetta spirituale sopra la nanna” is the saddest and most cruel lullaby on earth. It is a lullaby sung by the Virgin Mary in anticipation of her beloved child’s death. The bass repeats two notes (A and B♭) gloomily, on which the Virgin’s monologue is spoken. The song continues gloomily with a harmonic structure that has an eternal deceptive cadence (false end), so to speak. It is a very avant-garde piece for its time. Many singers have performed this song, but I don’t think any of them have surpassed Figueras’ expressive performance. #baroque #merula #片山俊幸
Hor ch’è tempo di dormire,
Dormi figlio e non vagire,
Perchè tempo ancor verrà che vagire biso guera.
Deh, ben mio, cor mio, fa la ninna na.
Chiudi, quei lumi divini
Come fan gli altri bambini
Per chè tosto oscuro velo
Priverà di lume il cielo.
Deh, ben mio, cor mio, fa la ninna na.
Over prendi queste latte dalle me
Mammelle intate perchè ministro crudele
ti prepara aceta e fiele.
Deh, ben mio, cor mio, fa la ninna na.
Amor mio, sia questo petto hor
Per te morbido letto pria che rendi ed alta voce,
L’alma al padre su la croce.
Deh, ben mio, fa la ninna na.
Posa hor queste membra belle e vezzo sette
E tenerelle perchè poi ferm’e catene,
Gli daranno acerbe pene.
Deh, ben mio, cor mio, fa la ninna na.
Queste mani e queste piedi
ch’or con gusto e gaudi vedi;
Ahi me, come in vari modi
Passeràn acuti chiodi.
Questa faccia graziosa ruli conda più di rosa,
Spudi e schiaffi spor che ranno
Con tormento e grand’afanno.
Ah, con quanto tuo dolore sola speme
del mio core questo capo e questi crini
Passeràn acuti spini.
Ah, che in questo divin petto amor
Mio dolce diletto.
Vi farà piaga matale empia
Lancia e disleale. Dormi dunque figlio mio,
pur redentor mio, Perch6 poi con lieto viso
Si vedremo in paradiso.
Hor che dorme la mia vita,
Del mio cor gioia compita.
Tocci an agi un con puro zeio,
E frattanto, io che farò il mio ben contemplerò
Taccian sin la terra e il cielo.
Ne starò col capo chino
Finche dorme il mio bambino.
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Now that it is time to sleep,
Sleep my darling and don’t cry,
For a time will come when you need to cry.
So, my darling, my heart, fa la ninna na.
Close those delightful eyes
Like the other children do
Because swift, dark veils
Will soon hide the light of heaven.
So, my darling, my heart, fa la ninna na.
Take the milk from
My untouched breasts as cruel rulers will prepare for You sourness and bitterness.
So, my darling, my heart, fa la ninna na.
My love, have this breast,
As your morbid bed will take you to higher voices,
The soul and the father underneath the cross.
So, my darling, my heart, fa la ninna na.
Now rest this body so beautiful and endearing
And tender. Later, hard chains
Will give it horrible pains.
So, my darling, my heart, fa la ninna na.
These hands and feet
I look at with joy and happiness;
Alas, in different ways
Sharp nails will pierce them.
This gracious face, more rosy-red than roses,
Will take spitting and smacking
With torment and great suffering.
Ah, how your pain will despair
My heart when this head and this hair
Will feel the sharp thorns.
Ah, in this blissful bosom
Love is my delight.
To you, the scars of death will be brought
By false spears. Sleep, my son,
To relieve me, and we will see each other with
Joyful eyes in Paradise.
Now that my life is asleep,
From my heart joy erupts.
I touch and comfort you with pure spirit,
Quiet as heaven and earth.
Meanwhile, what else can I do but wait
With a bowed head
Until my baby sleeps.
