Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
1250–1750
La Morra | Theatro dei Cervelli | Francesco Corti
Programme Performers English text German text French text Sung texts Sources Imprint
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La Morra
Theatro dei Cervelli
Francesco Corti
3
Early Renaissance
I-8 Verbum caro factum est anonymous [lm] 6:32
I-9 Umil madonna John Bedyngham (fl. c. 1460) [lm] 2:44
(cantasi come Gentil madonna / Fortune alas)
I-10 Poichè il tuo cor anonymous [lm] 3:33
(cantasi come Puisque je vis)
I-11 Adieu Florens la yolye Pietrequin Bonnel (fl. late 15th century) [lm] 2:40
I-12 In mijnem sin Alexander Agricola (?1445/46–1506) [lm] 2:42
I-13 Ne più bella di queste Henricus Isaac (c. 1450/55–1517) [lm] 4:50
I-14 Iesù sommo conforto Paulus Scotus (fl. 1507–1514) [lm] 2:58
I-15 Donna, el pianto et la mia doglia Giovanni Serragli (fl. 1502–1527) [lm] 5:16
Late Renaissance
I-16 Sacerdos et pontifex chant [lm] 0:30
I-17 Sacerdos et pontifex Francesco Corteccia (1502–1571) [tdc] 2:24
I-18 Ricercar del Primo Tuono del Zazzerino Jacopo Peri (1561–1633) [fc] 4:01
I-19 I’ vo piangendo i miei passati tempi Cristofano Malvezzi (1547–1599) [tdc] 2:02
I-20 Mentre con mill’amori Luca Bati (1546–1608) [tdc] 2:29
I-21 Nasce la pena mia Alessandro Striggio (c. 1536/37–1592) [tdc] 3:45
I-22 Nasce la pena mia (intavolato) Alessandro Striggio [fc] 4:47
I-23 Stabat mater dolorosa Serafino Razzi (1531–1611) [tdc] 3:49
II-1 Se nelle voci nostre Luca Marenzio (1553/54–1599) [tdc] 2:35
II-2 Godi turba mortal Emilio de’ Cavalieri (c. 1550–1602) [tdc] 1:55
II-3 Fuga Secunda à 4 Cristofano Malvezzi [fc] 4:00
II-4 Si bona suscepimus Philippe Verdelot (c. 1480/85–c. 1530/32) [tdc] 5:29
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Baroque Era
II-5 Aria di Firenze Giovanni Paolo Foscarini (fl. 1629–1647) [tdc] 1:58
II-6 La pastorella mia spietata e rigida Antonio Brunelli (1577–1630) [tdc] 3:30
II-7 Aria di Fiorenza Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583–1643) [fc] 2:57
II-8 Quando il sol apparisce Antonio Brunelli [tdc] 2:33
II-9 Aria di Fiorenza anonymous [fc] 2:10
II-10 Cantate Domino Antonio Brunelli [tdc] 2:13
II-11 Io parto lasso Giovanni Pietro Bucchianti (1608–after 1627) [tdc] 5:01
II-12 Aria di Fiorenza Giovanni Battista Ferrini (c. 1601–1674) [fc] 4:02
II-13 Splendete serene Antonio Brunelli [tdc] 1:46
II-14 Di quel nudo pargoletto Antonio Brunelli [tdc] 2:33
II-15 Aria di Fiorenza – La Rotta – Saltarel anonymous [fc] 2:51
II-16 La Salviata Domenico Anglesi (c. 1610/15–1674) [tdc] 5:11
II-17 Sull’aff ricane arene Marco da Gagliano (1582–1643) [tdc] 2:40
II-18 Preludio Cantabile con Ligature anonymous [fc] 2:33
II-19 Passacagli Pastorali anonymous [fc] 4:11
II-20 Aria alla Francese anonymous [fc] 1:25
II-21 Pastorale Domenico Zipoli (1688–1726) [fc] 3:38
II-22 Canzona Domenico Zipoli [fc] 3:49
II-23 Al Post Comunio Domenico Zipoli [fc] 1:37
II-24 All’Elevazione Domenico Zipoli [fc] 3:47
II-25 All’Offertorio Domenico Zipoli [fc] 1:48
II-26 Pastorale mezza bigia Francesco Feroci (1673–1750) [fc] 5:43
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Francesco Corti La Morra
www.francescocorti.com
6
Theatro dei Cervelli
Andrés Locatelli
direction
www.theatrocervelli.com
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between important compositions crucial for
Music in Golden-Age Florence, illustrating the principal developments and
1250–1750 genres, and compositions that are perhaps
less well-known but nonetheless illustrative
Th is double album and the book that accom- of the musical culture.
panies it – Anthony M. Cummings, Music in
Golden-Age Florence, 1250–1750 (University The Duecento
of Chicago Press, 2023) — are designed to en- We begin with music of late-medieval Flor-
able readers and listeners to enter the sound ence designed for communal worship, both
world of late-medieval and early-modern the formal liturgical services of the Church
Florence, “the most provocative of Italian and the informal devotional activity of the
cities,” in the words of historian John R. confraternity. Although there is sacred music
Hale. Despite the enviable place Florence surviving from earlier in the history of Flor-
occupies in the historical imagination, its ence, it was unlikely to have been uniquely
music-historical importance is not as well- Florentine in origin. Rather, it was music
understood as it should be. Yet if Florence was from the universal repertory of the Church,
the city of Dante Alighieri, Niccolò Machi- the so-called “Gregorian” chant, which com-
avelli, Michelangelo Buonarroti, and Galileo prised the ancient Latin sacred texts and their
Galilei, it was also the birthplace of the musical settings sung throughout western
Renaissance madrigal, opera, and the piano. Christendom. Unique to Florence instead
Our goal in assembling this set of recordings, were such newly composed chants as O levita
which survey the principal surviving genres nobilis Eugeni (Cummings, pp. 12–13), on a
of music in Florence in the half-millennium text — also newly composed — in honor of
between c. 1250 and c. 1750, was to provide St. Eugene, subdeacon of St. Zenobius, revered
a “virtual” evocation of the extraordinary as the fi rst bishop of Florence (Track I-1).
musical culture of golden-age Florence, one
of unsurpassed importance. Th rough the O levita nobilis Eugeni would have been
integration of the contents of the book and sung during the formal worship services of
the recording, and leveraging text, image, one of the ecclesiastical institutions of late-
musical notation, and sound, we offer our medieval Florence by members of its musical
listeners the possibility of metaphoric time establishment. Representative of a different
travel. We have attempted to strike a balance tradition of worship was the lauda, associated
8
with neighborhood parishes that had affi liated survives in a series of splendid, late medieval
institutions, the confraternities, comprising Florentine manuscripts.
members of the laity. Confraternal services
that featured lauda singing were the expres- Most of the composers of the secular
sion of more privately held, personal devo- vocal repertory — Gherardello da Firenze
tional sensibilities. Unlike Latin sacred texts and Andrea da Firenze among them — were
like O levita nobilis Eugeni, lauda texts were ecclesiastical figures who composed as an avo-
Italian sacred verse, fully understandable by cation. Gherardello’s I’ vo’ bene (Cummings,
the members of the confraternity who them- pp. 38–39) is a monophonic setting of a text by
selves participated in the services. Ogne homo contemporary poet Niccolò Soldanieri (Track
(Cummings, pp. 18–20) is a text-book example I-4). Andrea’s Astio non morì mai (Cum-
(Track I-2). The members of the confraternity mings, pp. 59–60) is a polyphonic setting of a
directed their singing toward a sacred devo- text that refers to Fortune’s Wheel, which may
tional image displayed on the church altar. explain the abstruse compositional device
that Andrea employed: An ostinato bass gives
The Trecento the resultant composition a quasi-mechanical
The rich secular Florentine Trecento tradition character (Track I-7).
is illustrated with two vocal compositions
— one monophonic, one polyphonic — and Florentine instrumental music of the
two instrumental compositions, representa- late Middle Ages is of two types: either the
tives of the earliest substantial repertory of accompaniment to dancing or an ex post facto
European instrumental music. Although the arrangement for instrumental performance
fourteenth-century polyphonic vocal tradi- of a vocal composition. In the fi rst category
tion of Florence was a rarified phenomenon, is La Manfredina (Track I-6). In the second
limited in its reach and precious in character, is Francesco Landino’s ballata Nella più cara
it is nonetheless the one that has attracted the parte, arranged for instrumental perform-
most scholarly attention. Why it is so amply ance (“intabulated”) by Corina Marti, whose
attested and studied is readily explainable: intabulation echoes those of period artists
The music exemplified a complexity that re- (Track I-5).
quired musical notation for it to be composed,
preserved, disseminated, and performed, as
the result of which a portion of the repertory
9
The Quattrocento sions of floats drawn by oxen through the
Representative of Quattrocento sacred, streets of Florence during the carnival season.
devotional music, which is not strictly litur-
gical and is often homophonic or in simpler Representative of music performed in in-
polyphony, is Verbum caro factum est (Track timate settings — for the Signoria of Florence
I-8), transmitted in a manuscript copied at the in Palazzo della Signoria or for private fami-
renowned scriptorium at the Church of Santa lies in their residences, the Medici foremost
Maria degli Angeli in Florence. And the rich among them — are two compositions trans-
lauda tradition fi rst decisively established mitted in the manuscript Florence, Biblioteca
in the Duecento is innovatively reïmagined nazionale centrale, Banco rari 229, where they
in the Quattrocento. Lauda texts were often are textless and therefore likely intended for
sung to preëxistent secular melodies, impres- instrumental performance: Alexander Agri-
sively international in origin. The practice was cola’s In mijnem sin (Track I-12) and Pietre-
known as the “cantasi come” phenomenon, quin Bonnel’s Adieu Florens la yoyle (Track
i.e., “sung like,” or “[to be] sung to the melody I-11). Both composers are known to have had
of,” exemplified by Umil madonna (“cantasi a personal relationship with the Medici. Their
come” Gentil madonna, identical to the musi- compositions would have been suitable for
cal setting of the ballade Fortune alas — lauda instrumental performance before the Signori
text: Francesco d’Albizo; composer: John in the mensa of Palazzo della Signoria or on a
Bedyngham, Track I-9) and Poichè il tuo cor convivial occasion in Palazzo Medici.
(“cantasi come” the musical setting of the ron-
deau Puisque je vis — lauda text: Feo Belcari; We conclude the late-medieval and early
composer: unknown, Track I-10). Renaissance eras with, fi rst, the musical set-
ting of a famous poem by Fra Girolamo Savon-
No recording devoted to Florentine arola, the theocratic Dominican friar who was
music of the late-medieval and early mod- effective ruler of Florence between the exile of
ern eras would be complete without a canto the Medici in 1494 and his excommunication
carnascialesco (carnival song), a quintessen- and execution in 1498 by burning at the stake.
tially Florentine musical genre, represented by In Iesù sommo conforto, of which strophes 1
Henricus Isaac’s Ne più bella di queste, which and 8–10 are performed, the poet, with seem-
praises Florence extravagantly (Track I-13). ing clairvoyance, asks of the cross that “by
Such canti were typically sung during proces- your sweet fi re, ignite my heart and soul!” and
10
that “by your divine love, inflame my heart so atic of the Florentine madrigal is Cristofano
much that it burns!” (Track I-14). The frottola Malvezzi’s I’ vo piangendo i miei passati tempi
Donna, el pianto is by musician and composer (1584), a setting of a sonnet by the revered
Giovanni Serragli, active in Florence in the Francesco Petrarca (Track I-19). The text
early Cinquecento (Track I-15). is the fi rst half of the concluding sonnet in
Petrarca’s Canzoniere and is a distillation of
The Cinquecento the theological, emotional, and psychological
Among Florence’s most enduring gifts to the themes of Petrarca’s life journey. Malvezzi’s
world was the madrigal, the most important status as a sure master of imitative polyphony
secular genre of the European musical Renais- — effectively essential for true success as a
sance. Initially, performances of madrigals in madrigalist — is documented by his Fuga
Florence functioned especially as the entr’acte Secunda à 4 (Track II-3).
musical entertainment — intermedij — in
comic dramatic works, often staged by the Included are Cinquecento examples of
embryonic Florentine academies. Madrigals music for communal worship and private
then became a favored genre of aristocratic devotions. Si bona suscepimus (1539?, Track
patrons, principally the Medici grand dukes, II-4), a motet by illustrious French composer
and of patrician amateurs who performed for Philippe Verdelot (who was employed in Flor-
their own delectation. The two most impor- ence for some years), is a Latin-texted sacred
tant composers of sixteenth-century Florence vocal composition with a freer relationship
were Francesco Corteccia and Alessandro to the liturgy; it is transmitted in a famous
Striggio, the second of whom was an employee Florentine manuscript, the Newberry part-
of the grand ducal court and a madrigalist of books. Francesco Corteccia’s motet Sacerdos
great distinction. Likely performed at the et Pontifex was for the ceremonial entry
court before it embraced the revolutionary to Florence in 1567 of its new archbishop,
style of the soloistic Ferrarese madrigal was Antonio Altoviti. The performance con-
the most widely-diff used of Striggio’s poly- text is identified in a period account: The
phonic madrigals, Nasce la pena mia (1565) archbishop-elect was received outside Porta
(Track I-21), paired here with an intabulation San Frediano, and as he mounted his horse
that illustrates how vocal compositions could for the processional, “in front of the gate, the
subsequently be arranged for instrumental royal [i.e., ducal] musicians — the best in the
performance (Track I-22). Also emblem- land — were singing the antiphon ... Sacerdos
11
et Pontifex, set polyphonically with great skill medio Godi turba mortal (Track II-2), illustra-
by Francesco Corteccia, a most learned man tive of the venerable practice of solo song to
in the art of music.” instrumental (string) accompaniment, and
Luca Marenzio’s intermedio Se nelle voci
Corteccia’s composition is a polyphonic nostre (Track II-1) were sung during the 1589
elaboration of thematic material from the performance of Girolamo Bargagli’s comedy
monophonic Gregorian chant of the same La pellegrina, staged at wedding festivities
name and thus exemplifies a foundational for Grand Duke Ferdinando de’ Medici and
compositional technique of the time. To Christine of Lorraine. (Cavalieri was also
illustrate the compositional strategy of con- said to have composed the so-called “Aria di
structing a polyphonic derivation upon its Fiorenza” that was performed at the festivi-
monophonic musical source (Cummings, pp. ties, which later served as the basis of several
183–89), we have recorded both the mono- hundred compositions. We return to the “Aria
phonic original (Track I-16) and the motet di Fiorenza”.) Luca Bati’s madrigal Mentre con
based upon it (Track I-17). The ancient lauda mill’amori was for the 1600 wedding of Maria
tradition as it had been practiced in Florence di Francesco I de’ Medici and Henri IV, king
was reverently documented by Serafi no Razzi of France and Navarre (Track I-20).
in his Libro primo delle laude spirituali (1563),
which contains a setting of the medieval prosa The Seicento
Stabat mater dolorosa (Track I-23). While music had figured in theatrical per-
formances in Florence since the early Cinque-
An album devoted to Florentine mu- cento at the latest, the early Seicento witnessed
sic of the early-modern period could not an expansion in the types of applications of
be representative without compositions music to such performances, the most notable
from the mythic Florentine festivals of the among them being opera, Florence’s greatest
sixteenth century. The ennoblement of the musical gift to the world. Another important
Medici — a mercantile family anxious about musico-theatrical genre of the time was the
its socio-political bona fides — inspired their ballet entertainment, staged at the grand
expropriation of the practices of the genuine ducal court, an ephemeral genre for which a
European aristocracy and their staging of surprising amount of music survives. In addi-
a series of opulent public festivals, often for tion to the extant instrumental music that ac-
family weddings. Emilio de’ Cavalieri’s inter- companied the dancing, a Mascherata di ninfe
12
di Senna (1611) by poet Ottavio Rinuccini We take particular pleasure in featur-
featured different species of surviving vocal ing an unjustifiably lesser-known composer,
compositions, at least one of which derived its Antonio Brunelli. “Antonio di Mastro Romolo
fundamental defi ning musical characteristics di Pierdomenico Brunelli ... was baptized on
from opera: the recitative style. The music also the 20th day of the said [month of December
features another of the contemporary species 1577].” Brunelli, who himself identified “Sig.
of vocal music: In the “Intermedio of the Pas- Giovanni Nanino” as his “most excellent
sengers,” several boats appeared. After the preceptor,” served as organist of San Mini-
fi rst, “[a]nother ... appears and its occupants ato (1603–07) and then “chapelmaster of the
join those of the fi rst in singing the madrigal Duomo [of Prato] from ... 1608 to ... 1613,” his
Sull’aff ricane arene... .[T]he madrigal was ex- election ratified by the “Nine Conservators of
cellently set to music by Marco da Gagliano, the Florentine jurisdiction and dominion.”
canon of San Lorenzo ... and mæstro di cap- He reported on important relationships he
pella to His Highness.” Gagliano’s madrigal enjoyed with the celebrated composers Giulio
Sull’aff ricane arene celebrated Grand Duke Caccini and, in Brunelli’s own words, his
Cosimo II’s military victories in Africa and “Most illustrious lord Alfonso Fontanelli.” In
was published in the composer’s sixth book of 1612, the members of the Ordine de’ Cavalieri
madrigals, dedicated to Cosimo (Cummings, di S.to Stefano of Pisa, a religious-chivalric
pp. 311–15, Track II-17). order, asked their Magister Magnus (Grand
Master), Grand Duke Cosimo II de’ Medici,
Domenico Anglesi, one of the court musi- to name Brunelli their mæstro di cappella,
cians of the grand duke of Tuscany, enjoyed a a request that Cosimo honored. In bringing
relationship as well with grand ducal siblings Brunelli to the attention of the grand duke,
Cardinal Giovan Carlo and Grand Prince the “Cavalieri” described him in eff usive lan-
Mattias. Anglesi composed music — lost, alas guage: “Th is Antonio Brunelli, besides being
— for the equestrian ballet Il mondo festeg- a very good composer, thus far has different
giante, staged at Palazzo Pitti in 1661 for the things of his in print, which are esteemed.”
wedding festivities for the future grand duke To illustrate his versatility as composer, we
Cosimo III and Marguerite Louise d’Orléans. present a selection of Brunelli’s Latin sacred,
Anglesi’s penchant for experimental harmo- Italian secular, and instrumental composi-
nies is evident in his aria La Salviata (1635, tions (Tracks II-6, 8, 10, 13 and 14).
Track II-16).
13
Among Brunelli’s pupils was Giovanni in his teaching, and when a serious illness com-
Pietro Bucchianti, who described himself in pelled Casini to curtail his activities, Feroci
1627 as a “disciple of Signor Antonio Brunelli” began to substitute for him at “the first Organ
and served Brunelli in his rôle as mæstro di of S. Maria del Fiore, demonstrating well his
cappella of the Cavalieri di S.to Stefano. Buc- meriting the trust and affection of his Master.”
chianti’s Aria di Romanescha (Track II-11) At Casini’s death, the authorities of the Opera
is especially important to the concept of our del Duomo at once appointed Feroci first or-
program: It was dedicated to Francesca Cac- ganist. He is represented by his Pastorale mezza
cini, an important musician and composer in bigia illustrative of his virtuosity (Track II-26).
her own right and daughter of Giulio, one of the
principal figures in the early history of opera. Born in Prato in 1688, Domenico Zipoli
petitioned Grand Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici
Keyboard Music for funds so that he might study in Florence,
Our final selection is of compositions for where he collaborated with Casini, among
keyboard with pronounced Florentine asso- others, on composing an oratorio. Additional
ciations, which is appropriate for a recording grand ducal largesse permitted Zipoli to study
devoted to the music of Florence, birthplace of in Naples with Alessandro Scarlatti, who had
the piano. Although celebrated above all for his visited Florence in the early Settecento and
vocal music, Jacopo Peri — composer of the composed new arias for a revival of his opera Il
earliest extant opera preserved in its entirety, Flavio Cuniberto, performed at the Medici villa
librettist Ottavio Rinuccini’s Euridice — was in Pratolino in 1702. Zipoli is represented here
also noted for his instrumental compositions, by several compositions for liturgical usage
exemplified here by his Ricercar del Primo (Tracks II-21‒25).
Tuono del Zazzerino (Track I-18), which dem-
onstrates his command of traditional, exacting The 1702 performance of Scarlatti’s
Cinquecento compositional techniques that opera at the Medici villa is an instance of the
complement those later pioneered in his oper- musical patronage activities of Grand Prince
atic compositions. Ferdinando di Cosimo III de’ Medici, one of
the greatest patrons of music in Medici fam-
Francesco Feroci was a member of the ily history. Ferdinando was the benefactor of
“school” of noted composer and organist Bartolomeo Cristofori, who was effectively the
Giovanni Maria Casini. Feroci assisted Casini inventor of the piano. And we feature here a
14
selection of keyboard compositions that may encourage the respectful attention that Flor-
have been composed by the grand prince him- ence deserves not only for its epoch-making
self: a Preludio Cantabile con Ligature; an Aria achievements in literature, the visual arts,
alla Francese; and Passacagli Pastorali (Tracks political thought, and science, but also in
II-18‒20). music. Our thanks to our readers and listeners
for accompanying us on what we trust will be a
Recorded here are five settings of the delightful voyage!
famous composition that became known post
hoc as the “Aria di Fiorenza,” said to have Acknowledgements
been composed by Emilio de’ Cavalieri for the Anthony M. Cummings wishes to thank Lafayette
1589 intermedij (Cummings, pp. 214, 216, and College, Easton, Pennsylvania, for naming him
397–98 nn. 68 and 79–80), on which see above. the Eugene Howard Clapp II ’36, LL.D. ’84, and
The attribution to Cavalieri in the 1591 publica- Maud Millicent Greenwell Clapp Professor in
tion that contains the entirety of the music for the Humanities at Lafayette, an appointment
the intermedij was later accepted uncritically that carries funding with it for scholarly initia-
by Giovanni Battista Doni: Cavalieri “invented tives such as this recording.
that very beautiful dance, called of the grand
duke, or the Aria di Firenze.” (Elsewhere the Anthony M. Cummings
music is identified as a “balletto in lode dell[a] with the collaboration of Francesco Corti,
ser[enissi].ma madama Christina Lorena de Michał Gondko, Andrés Locatelli
Medici.”) Of the five settings recorded here, and Corina Marti
two are anonymous, one is by Giovanni Paolo
Foscarini, one by Giovanni Battista Ferrini,
and one by the renowned composer, organist,
and harpsichordist Girolamo Frescobaldi, who
for several years was in the service of the grand
duke of Tuscany (Tracks II-5, 7, 9, 12 and 15).
Francesco Feroci gehörte zur »Schule« Die Aufführung von Scarlattis Oper
des berühmten Komponisten und Organi- 1702 in der Medici-Villa ist ein Beispiel für
sten Giovanni Maria Casini. Feroci assistierte das musikalische Mäzenatentum des Groß-
Casini in seinem Unterricht, und als dieser fürsten Ferdinando di Cosimo III. de’ Medici,
aufgrund einer schweren Krankheit gezwun- einem der größten Musikmäzene in der Ge-
gen war, seine Aktivitäten einzuschränken, schichte der Familie Medici. Ferdinando war
vertrat Feroci ihn »an der ersten Orgel von der Gönner von Bartolomeo Cristofori, der
S. Maria del Fiore und zeigte damit, dass er als Erfinder des Klaviers gilt. Wir stellen hier
das Vertrauen und die Zuneigung seines Mei- eine Auswahl von Klavierkompositionen vor,
sters erworben hatte«. Nach Casinis Tod er- die möglicherweise vom Großfürsten selbst
nannten die Verantwortlichen der Opera del komponiert wurden: ein Preludio Cantabile
Duomo Feroci umgehend zum ersten Organi- con Ligature, eine Aria alla Francese und Pas-
sten. Er ist hier mit seiner Pastorale mezza bi- sacagli Pastorali (Tracks II-18‒20).
gia vertreten, die seine Virtuosität illustriert
(Track II-26). Das Album enthält fünf Vertonungen der
schon oben erwähnten berühmten Komposi-
Der 1688 in Prato geborene Domenico tion, die im Nachhinein als Aria di Fiorenza
Zipoli ersuchte den Großherzog Cosimo III. bekannt wurde und von Emilio de’ Cavalieri
de’ Medici um finanzielle Unterstützung, für das intermedij von 1589 komponiert wor-
damit er in Florenz studieren konnte, wo er den sein soll (Cummings, S. 214, 216 und 397f.,
23
Anmerkungen 68 und 79f.). Die Zuschrei- Danksagung
bung an Cavalieri in der Veröffentlichung Anthony M. Cummings möchte dem Lafa-
von 1591, die die gesamte Musik für die in- yette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, dafür
termedij enthält, wurde später von Giovanni danken, dass es ihn zum Eugene Howard
Battista Doni unkritisch akzeptiert: Cavalieri Clapp II ’36, LL.D. ’84, and Maud Millicent
»erfand diesen sehr schönen Tanz, den man Greenwell Clapp Professor in the Humanities
den des Großherzogs nennt, oder die Aria di ernannt hat – eine Position, die mit finanziel-
Firenze«. An anderer Stelle wird die Musik als len Mitteln für wissenschaftliche Initiativen
»balletto in lode dell[a] ser[enissi].ma madama wie dieser Aufnahme verbunden ist.
Christina Lorena de Medici« bezeichnet. Von
den fünf hier aufgenommenen Versionen sind Anthony M. Cummings
zwei anonym, eine stammt von Giovanni in Zusammenarbeit mit Francesco Corti,
Paolo Foscarini, eine von Giovanni Battista Michał Gondko, Andrés Locatelli
Ferrini und eine von dem berühmten Kom- und Corina Marti
ponisten, Organisten und Cembalisten Gi- (Übersetzung: Rainer Arndt)
rolamo Frescobaldi, der mehrere Jahre in den
Diensten des Großherzogs der Toskana stand
(Tracks II-5, 7, 9, 12 and 15).
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
[Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, [as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
Et in secula seculorum. Amen.] world without end. Amen.]
33
i-2 Ogne homo
Ogne homo ad alta boce Praise the true cross
laudi la verace croce! in a loud voice, everyone!
Fosti ripiena del savere divino When that aromatic flower came unto you
quando in te venne quello aulente flore: you were full of divine knowledge:
in perciò che fosti humile et benigna, You were so worthy of joyous Jesus,
fosti sì degna di Gesù gioioso. in that you were modest and benign.
Vergine donzella... Chaste maiden...
Non son colui che per pigliar la luna I am not like those who chase the moon,
Consuma ’l tempo suo e nulla n’ à; burning time and winding up with nothing.
Ma, se m’avien, com ’or, m’incontri ad una But if it happens, like now, that I meet a girl
Che mi si tolga, i’ dico: – E tu tti sta! – who takes me for herself, I say “You have to do your part.”
Se mi fa: – Lima, lima! – et io a lei: – Dà, dà!– If she says “File away, fi le away,” to her I say “Give me, give me!”
E così vivo in questa pura fe’. Thus I live by this simple belief:
I’ vo’ bene... I love the one who loves me...
Com’ altri in me, così mi sto in altrui; As others are to me, thus I am to them;
Di quel ch’ i’ posso a chi mi dona do; I give what I can to those who give to me.
Niuno può dir di me: – Vedi colui No one can say about me: look, there is the one
Che con duo lingue dice sì e no – who speaks with two tongues: yes and no.
Ma fermo a chi sta fermo sempre sto; Instead I always stand firm with those who stand firm with me.
S’ io l’ ò al bisogno mio, m’ à a sè. If they serve my needs, they have me to serve theirs.
I’ vo’ bene... I love the one who loves me...
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Per tener ragion torta. such as to trigger wrongful reasoning
Attuta gente mai. forevermore among the people.
Tu se’ liberatrice del mio grave peccare. You free me from my grave sins.
Sana la mia ferita, o Regina superna, Heal my wounds, oh high Queen,
Priega Gesù, ch’ogni cosa governa pray to Jesus, who reigns over all things,
Ch’al fi n della mia vita mi voglia il ciel donare. that he may grant me heaven at the end of my life.
Degna pregar Gesù, tuo figlio e sposo, Graciously pray Jesus, your son and groom,
Che le sue piaghe sien le mie diffese that his wounds be my defense,
E tanto del suo amor mi sia cortese and that he may grant me so much of his love,
Che d’ogni male io sia vittorioso. so that I am victorious against every evil.
Poiché il tuo cor... Because your heart...
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i-13 Ne più bella di queste
Né più bella di queste, né più degna Neither more beautiful goddesses than these
Si truova alcuna dèa: are found, nor worthier ones.
Iunon vedete che nel ciel su regna; You see Juno, who reigns in heaven above;
Vedete Citherea, you see Venus,
Madre dolze d’amore; sweet mother of Cupid;
Vedete qui Minerva, here you see Minerva,
Che gli ingegni conserva, who protects ingeniousness
E ’l martial furore and subdues martial fury
Doma coll’arte et colla sapienza; with art and knowledge,
Venute insieme ad abitar Fiorenza. they all having come together to dwell in Florence.
Fiorenza tu sarai la più famosa Florence, you will be the most famous
Città che vegha il sole; city that the sun has ever shone upon;
Di lor presenza sarai gloriosa; you will be made glorious by their presence;
Iunon tuo stato vuole Juno wants your current state
Crescere et in concordia to increase and
Tener donne e mariti, keep women and husbands together in harmony,
E cittadini uniti and she will have the citizens remain united
Terrà senza discordia; without discord;
Farà il popol fruir fuor d’ogni usanza, she will make the people flourish beyond the customary,
Sano e gagliardo e sempre in abbondanza. healthy and strong, and always in superabundance.
Minerva saggia ci darà vittoria Wise Minerva will give us the victory
Contro a nimici in guerra; over one’s enemies in war;
Faratti trionfar con somma gloria, she will have you triumph
E per mare e per terra; on land and sea with ultimate glory;
In tutte le buone arte you alone will surpass the goal
O di mano o d’ingegno, in all the fi ne arts,
Sola passerai ’l segno, whether of the hand or the mind,
Felice in ogni parte, happy in every realm,
Toccando il ciel colla superba chioma, reaching the heavens with superb locks of hair,
Fiorenza bella figliuola di Roma. Florence, beautiful daughter of Rome.
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i-15 Donna, el pianto et la mia doglia
Donna, el pianto et la mia doglia Lady, my weeping and sorrow
Mi consum’ appocho appocho. are consuming me little by little.
De’, ripara a questo focho, Ah, save me from this fi re,
O di vita tu mi spoglia, or rob me of my life!
Donna, el pianto et la mia doglia. Lady, my weeping and sorrow...
Non per questo aquisti fama, Th is shall not win you good reputation,
Anzi t’è gran disonore. on the contrary, greatly dishonours you.
Se’l tuo servo così t’ama Since your servant loves you so,
Non gli dar tanto dolore. do not cause him so much pain.
Egli à perso ogni vighore He has lost all strength
Per ir drieto alla tuo voglia, by following your will.
Donna, el pianto et la mia doglia. Lady, my weeping and sorrow...
Tu che vedi i miei mali indegni et empi, Invisible, immortal king of heaven,
Re del cielo invisibile immortale, you who see my unworthy and impious ills,
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Soccorri a l’alma disvïata et frale, give succour to the frail and wayward soul,
E ’l suo defecto di tua gratia adempi. and through your grace address its defects.
42
Quis est homo qui non fleret, What man would not weep
Christi Matrem si videret seeing the Mother of Christ
in tanto supplitio? in such torment?
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Or voi, di queste linfe Now you, Nymphs,
Abitatrici, Ninfe, inhabitants of these waters,
Se del nostro cantar diletto avete, if you delight in our singing,
Al ciel grazie rendete, give thanks to heaven,
E di palme e d’alloro and with palm and laurel
Incoronate il più soave coro. crown the sweetest chorus.
Ben sanno questi boschi quant’io amola, These woods know well how much I love her,
Sannolo fiumi, monti, fiere ed òmini, rivers, mountains, beasts, and men know it too,
Ch’ognor piangendo e sospirando bramola. that I crave her constantly, weeping and sighing.
Sallo quante fiate il dì la nomini How many times each day I call her name
Il gregge mio, che già tuttora ascoltami, is known by my flock, which heeds me always,
O ch’egli in selva pasca o in mandra romini. whether grazing in the forest or ruminating together.
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Ecco rimbomba e spesso indietro voltami Now it resounds and often I turn ’round,
Le voci, che sì dolci in aria suonano, the voices that ring so sweetly through the air
E nell’orecchie ’l bel nome risoltami. and let me hear the lovely name in my ears.
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Volgete quei sguardi, turn those glances,
Vibrate quei dardi, shoot those arrows,
Ferite, ferite! wound, wound.
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ii-14 Di quel nudo pargoletto
Di quel nudo pargoletto Of that naked little darling
D’ogni stral possent’arciero, a powerful archer of every arrow,
Di quel nume ch’al suo impero of that god who has subjugated
Ha la terr’il ciel soggetto, the earth and the heaven to his rule,
Siam’o donn’illustr’e belle we are, o illustrious and beautiful women,
Parte servi e parte ancelle. part servants and part handmaidens.
ii-16 La Salviata
La mia ninfa Amore Love, my Nymph,
Che ver me si cruda sta, steadfastly cruel to me,
Per colmarmi di dolore to o’ertop my sorrow
Più vezzosa ogn’hor si fa. grows more charming by the hour.
Più la miro, più sospiro, The more I look at her, the more I sigh,
Più m’adiro, ché non ha and the more my anger grows,
La crudel di me pietà. for cruel she has no pity for me.
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Più la miro, più sospiro, The more I look at her, the more I sigh,
Più m’adiro, ché non ha and the more my anger grows,
La crudel di me pietà. for cruel she has no pity for me.
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Sources
[I-1] Firenze, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, MS Edili 131
[I-2,3] Firenze, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, MS Banco Rari 18
[I-4,5,7] Firenze, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, MS Mediceo Palatino 87
[I-6] London, British Library, Add. MS 29987
[I-8] Firenze, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, MS Ashb. 999
[I-9] Berlin, Staatliche Museen der Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Kupferstichkabinett, MS 78.C.28
[I-10] Firenze, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, MS Magl. XIX.176
[I-11,12] Firenze, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, MS Banco Rari 229
[I-13,15] Firenze, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, MS Banco Rari 230
[I-14] Ottaviano Petrucci: Laude Libro Secondo (Venezia, 1508)
[I-17] Francesco Corteccia: Canticorum Liber primus cum Quinque vocibus (Venezia, 1571)
[I-18] Cristofano Malvezzi: Il Primo Libro de Ricercari (Lucca, 1577)
[I-19] Cristofano Malvezzi: Il primo libro de madrigali a sei voci (Venezia, 1584)
[I-20] Marco da Gagliano: Il Terzo Libro de Madrigali a Cinque Voci (Venezia, 1605)
[I-21] Alessandro Striggio: Il primo libro de madrigali a sei voci (Venezia, 1565)
[I-22] Firenze, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, MS Acquisti 641
[I-23] Serafino Razzi: Libro primo delle laudi spirituali (Firenze, 1563)
[II-1,2] Intermedii et concerti, fatti per la Commedia rappresentata in Firenze nelle nozze del serenissimo Don
Ferdinando Medici (Venezia, 1591)
[II-3] Bernhard Schmid: Tabulatur Buch (Straßburg, 1607)
[II-4] Philippe Verdelot, et al., Secundus Liber [...] Fior de Mottetti (Venezia, 1539)
[II-5] Giovanni Paolo Foscarini: I quattro libri della chitarra spagnola (place and date unknown)
[II-6,8,13] Antonio Brunelli: Arie, scherzi, canzonette e madrigali (Venezia, 1613)
[II-7] Roma, Bibl. Apostolica Vaticana, MS CHIGI Q.IV.25
[II-9] Roma, Archivio Doria Pamphilj, MS 250/B
[II-10] Antonio Brunelli: Prato di Sacri Fiori Musicali (Venezia, 1612)
[II-11] Giovanni Pietro Bucchianti: Arie, scherzi e madrigali (Venezia, 1627)
[II-12] Roma, Bibl. Apostolica Vaticana, MS CHIGI Q.IV.26
[II-14] Antonio Brunelli: Scherzi, Arie, Canzonette e Madrigali, Libro Terzo (Venezia, 1616)
[II-15] Roma, Archivio Doria Pamphilj, MS 250/B
[II-16] Domenico Anglesi: Libro primo d’arie musicali (Firenze, 1635)
[II-17] Marco da Gagliano: Il sesto libro de madrigali a cinque voci (Venezia, 1617)
[II-18–20] Firenze, Biblioteca del Conservatorio Statale di Musica Luigi Cherubini, MS D. 2358
[II-21–25] Domenico Zipoli: Sonate d’Intavolatura per Organo e Cimbalo (Roma, 1716)
[II-26] Berlin, Staatsbibliothek Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Mus. ms. L113
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Recorded 28 September–3 October 2022 at Santa Maria Nuova, Cortona, Italy (Theatro dei Cervelli
& Francesco Corti) and 9–12 January 2023 at St. Leodegar, Möhlin, Switzerland (La Morra)
Artistic direction & audio engineering: Rainer Arndt
Editing: Michał Gondko (La Morra) & Rainer Arndt (Theatro dei Cervelli & Francesco Corti)
Artwork, layout & executive production: Rainer Arndt / Outhere
Cover: Pope Eugenius IV arriving at the Cathedral, Gradual Edili 151, Florence, c. 1450–1470
© Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana
This project was made possible with the financial support of Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania
Heartfelt thanks to Professor Linda L. Carroll (Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana)
and Professor Luigi Silvano (Università degli Studi di Torino)
for their generous help in translating some of the sung texts.
Andrés Locatelli would like to thank Prof. Daniele Sabaino, Anna Seggi, Silvia Corti,
Daniele Bennati, Alberto Bennati, Lisandro Abadie, Don Ottorino Capannini,
and the church of Santa Maria Nuova at Cortona.
Rainer Arndt would like to thank Daniele Bennati for having saved the last day of the recording.
RAM2206
www.ramee.org www.outhere-music.com
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Previously recorded with La Morra, Corina Marti and Michał Gondko:
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Th is album accompanies the eponymous book by Anthony M. Cummings
Music in Golden-Age Florence, 1250–1750
(The University of Chicago Press, Chicago & London, 2023)
https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/M/bo183893384.html