My song translations are intended to guide singers, audiences, and other readers to the meaning and poetic qualities of the original poems. They are not intended as substitutes for the originals in musical performance: the madrigals based on these poems should be sung in Italian. These translations may be used in program notes and other publications, with a citation to the author and source, and I would appreciate an email telling me about their use. Citation: Translation by Nicholas R. Jones, from www.NicholasRJones.com.
A Poetry Precise and Free: Selected Madrigals of Guarini
Guarini was the most popular lyricist of Italy in the later 16th century. His poems were set to music by dozens of composers, including Monteverdi (who set 50 of Guarini’s madrigals).
To order this collection of 150 poems, with background and commentary , go to the University of Michigan Press or Amazon or speak to your local bookstore.
Here’s “Occhi, stelle mortali”:
Even in sleep, your eyes
are bright death stars; they shoot
me with their deadly rays,
the messengers of pain.
Closed, they’re the death of me;
but open . . . worse disaster!
Other translations (click on title to view)
Interotte speranze
a madrigal by Guarini
Fractured hopes, firm faith;
fierce flames held in a feeble heart . . .
Scendi dal paradiso
an anonymous madrigal, set by Luca Marenzio
Venus, come from the heavens,
and bring love along with you,
and grace, and laughter . . .
Vestiva i colli
an anonymous sonnet in the Petrarchan style, set by Palestrina and others
Spring, breathing the sweetest perfumes
and garlanded with herbs and leaves . . .
24 Italian Songs
texts of songs from this much-used anthology—Tu lo sai, Caro mio ben, Amarilli mio bella, Nel cor piu mio non sento, Quella fiama che m’accende
You know how much I loved you;
you know it in your hard heart . . .