Monteverdi - Lamento della Ninfa - Kirkby

High resolution and stereo sound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3ZX5hFN-is&fmt=18

Claudio Monteverdi

Lamento della Ninfa,
from "Madrigali guerrieri ed amorosi, 1638"
(Ottavo Libro de' Madrigali)

Text: Ottavio Rinuccini

Part I: Non havea Febo ancora (TTB)
Part II: Amor, dicea (STTB)
Part III: Si, tra sdegnosi pianti (TTB)


In this recording:

Emma Kirkby, soprano
Paul Agnew, tenor
Andrew King, tenor
Alan Ewing, bass

The Consort of Musicke,
Anthony Rooley

Musicians:
Tom Finucane, Anthony Rooley, Shirley Rumsey, lutes
Christopher Wilson, Michael Fields, David Miller, chitarroni
Erin Headley, lirone
Hannelore DeVaere, harp
Alan Wilson, organ
Virgin Veritas

Recorded in 1989-1990


Lamento della ninfa is the 18th piece from Monteverdi's eighth book of madrigals (Madrigali guerrieri ed amorosi, 1638). The three male voices narrate the story and offer empathy to the nymph while she is lamenting over her abandonment. This movement of the madrigal is a beautiful example for Phrygian progression with the ostinato of its bass line in four descending notes all the way through. The inner turmoil and sorrow of the nymph is mirrored in the music by the melodic and harmonic dissonances.


Original text:

Non havea Febo ancora
recato al mondo il dì
ch'una donzella fuora
del proprio albergo uscì.

Sul pallidetto volto
scorgease il suo dolor,
spesso gli venia sciolto
un gran sospir dal cor.

Sì calpestando fiori,
errava hor qua, hor là,
i suoi perduti amori
così piangendo va:

"Amor," dicea, il ciel
mirando il piè fermò
"dove, dov'è la fé
che 'l traditor giurò?

Fa che ritorni il mio
amor com'ei pur fu,
o tu m'ancidi, ch'io
non mi tormenti più."

Miserella, ah più no,
tanto gel soffrir non può.

"Non vo' più che i sospiri
se non lontan da me,
no, no, che i suoi martiri
più non dirammi, affé!

Perché di lui mi struggo
tutt'orgoglioso sta,
che sì, che sì se 'l fuggo
ancor mi pregherà?

Se ciglio ha più sereno
colei che 'l mio non è,
già non rinchiude in seno
Amor si bella fé.

Né mai si dolci baci
da quella bocca havrai,
né più soavi; ah, taci,
taci, che troppo il sai."

Sì tra sdegnosi pianti
spargea le voci al ciel;
così ne' cori amanti
mesce Amor fiamma e gel.

Translation (by Massimo Ossi, slightly edited):

Phoebus had not yet
brought daylight to the world
when a damsel
came out of her dwelling.

Her suffering was plain
on her face,
and frequently she let
great sighs loose from her heart.

Thus trampling the flowers,
she wandered here and there,
and her lost love
she thus wept:

"Love," she said, stopping
to look at the heavens,
"where, where is the faith
that the traitor swore to me?

Let my love return
as he was,
or else kill me, so that I
may no longer torment myself."

Poor wretch, alas, nol longer
can she suffer such scorn.

"I don't want him to sigh
except away from me,
I no longer want him
to confide his sufferings in me.

Because I suffer for him,
he is proud;
will he beseech me
if I flee from him?

She may have a more serene
brow than mine,
but even Love's breast
does not harbor such beautiful constancy.

Never will he have such sweet kisses
from that mouth,
nor softer - be still,
be still, that he knows all too well.

Thus among scornful weeping
she scattered her laments to the sky;
thus in lovers' hearts
Love mixes flame and ice.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Monteverdi
• Lamento
• della
• Ninfa
• Emma
• Kirkby
• Paul
• Agnew
• Andrew
• King
• Alan
• Ewing
• Anthony
• Rooley

[Cantormatis]

the soprano is terribly flat all over the place; but it's such beautiful music!!

[civileso]

@Cantormatis Yeah, right! Kirkby, of all sopranos!

[tommax26]

You must have an incredible heart and soul, Eser, to choose the YouTube musical selections you post. I pray we all can step up to the plate from which you broadcast love of fine art.

[civileso]

Thank you very much for the kind words. Beauty only multiplies as we share.

[MehdiCaps]

So beautiful. Who said that Emma was not able to move? She does that with pure singing, no pathos, the anti-Dessay on this one (I'm not saying that Dessay was bad, only at the other end of the spectrum). See her pianissimo on the last "mai", and the last "taci"... Gorgeous.

[civileso]

Well said! She is not the hysterical kind of abandoned nymph; she is faint with grief. And she does it so well! I love it!

[elbaclar]

Esta pieza me sobrecoge. Me gustaría poder compartir con alguien lo que siento escuchando esto, pero desgraciadamente pocas personas apreciarían lo bellísimo que es este madrigal, y menos personas de mi edad.

[Mastergymnast1]

Wauw erg erg mooi!

Wow very very beautiful!

[guitartonno92]

Il brivido più lungo della mia vita..

[TheMule48]

Wonderfully sung....hers is the best I've ever heard!

[MrGipeto66]

Monteverdi e Rinuccini:zaubere Verbindung!!!

[anisometropie]

this piece conceals an utmust artistic beauty

[MrGipeto66]

Monteverdi ist unerreichbar!

Ausgezeichnete Vortragung!!!

Bravissimi!!!

[jeffg2020]

There's nothing else like this, anywhere. Che belta'...