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Four Tuscan Love Songs
Translations © by Joshua Breitzer
Song Cycle by Ottorino Respighi (1879 - 1936)
View original-language texts alone: Quattro Rispetti Toscani
Quando nasceste voi, disse la rosa: "Vo' dare alle tue gote il mio colore," E 'l giglio: "Anch'io vo' darti qualcosa: Ti darò la purezza e 'l mio candore..." La colomba li udì così parlare E smise tutt'a un tratto di volare... "Oh, voglio darti qualche cosa anch'io: Ti darò la mitezza del cor mio!" Sentirono, di sù dal ciel, le stelle E dissero anche loro tutte 'n coro: "Noi daremo alle tue pupille belle La nostra luce..." E 'l sole: "Io darò l'oro Del mio colore a tuoi biondi capelli..." E l'usignolo primo tra li augelli: "Darò alle tue parole l'armonia Del canto ch'esce dalla gola mia!"
Text Authorship:
- by Arturo Birga (1871 - 1959)
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
When you were born, the rose said: “I want to give my colour to your cheeks.” And the lily said: “I too want to give you something: I shall give you purity and my whiteness of hue.” The dove heard them talking thus and suddenly paused its flight… “Oh, I want to give you something too: I shall give you the mildness of my heart!” High in the heavens the stars heard this and they too spoke from their hearts: “We shall give your beautiful eyes our light…” And the sun added: “I shall give my golden colour to your fair hair…” And, first among the birds, the nightingale said: “I shall give your voice the tunefulness of the song that flows from my throat!”
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2022 by Joshua Breitzer, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Arturo Birga (1871 - 1959)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2022-09-30
Line count: 16
Word count: 125
Venitelo a vedere 'l mi' piccino Or che nella culla è addormentato: Venitelo a veder com'è carino, Pare un angiol di Dio dal ciel calato!... Angioletti del ciel, venite in coro, A sorridere al dolce mi' tesoro. Venite... Zitto! Ha mosso 'l labbro al riso... Sognando, ora è con voi, su 'n Paradiso!
Text Authorship:
- by Arturo Birga (1871 - 1959)
Go to the general single-text view
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Come and see my little one now that he’s sleeping in his crib: come and see how adorable he is, like one of God’s angels fallen from heaven!... Little angels on high, flock together and come and smile upon my sweet treasure. Come… Hush! His lips are parted in laughter… In his dreams he’s with you now, in Paradise above!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2022 by Joshua Breitzer, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Arturo Birga (1871 - 1959)
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This text was added to the website: 2022-09-30
Line count: 8
Word count: 60
Viene di là, lontan, lontano 'l vento E me lo manda qui 'l mi' dolce amore Perché mi dica, nel suo strano accento, Tante belle parole in fondo al core... O vento lene, o lene venticello, Ritorna dal mi damo, dal mi' bello: Ritorna dal mi' damo, o vento lene, E digli che gli voglio tanto bene! E digli che gli voglio bene tanto, E che dal giorno ch'è partito via Ho sempre gli occhi rossi pel gran pianto E 'l core gonfio di malinconia... Diglielo, o venticello profumato, In quali condizioni m'hai lasciato... Digli del core mio tutti gli affanni E che ritorni presto e non m'inganni!
Text Authorship:
- by Arturo Birga (1871 - 1959)
Go to the general single-text view
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
The breeze is blowing from that far-distant place, sent here to me by my sweet beloved to utter, in its foreign tones, such fine words as to pierce my heart... O gentle breeze, o gentle little breeze, go back to my man, to my handsome love: go back to my man, o gentle breeze, and tell him how much I love him! And tell him how much I love him, and that ever since the day he went away my eyes have been red with weeping and my heart has been filled with sadness… Tell him, o perfumed little breeze, what sorrow he’s reduced me to… Tell him how my heart is breaking, to come home soon and not deceive me!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2022 by Joshua Breitzer, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Arturo Birga (1871 - 1959)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2022-09-30
Line count: 16
Word count: 121
Razzolan, sopra l'aja, le galline, Beccando i chicchi sparsi del frumento. Lungo la viale brune contadine Passando, coi capelli sciolti al vento... Razzolan, sopra l'aja, le galline, Mentre dal pozzo la bella massaia Tira su l'acqua e canta uno stornello A Gigi che la guarda dal cancello! A Gigi che la guarda stralunato Con quell'occhietti pieni di passione... Povero Gigi è tanto innamorato Che si strugge com'un cero in processione! Glielo vorrebbe confessar l'amore, Ma quando l'è vicino non ha core... Instanto la massaia indugia apposta, Ma lui da qual cancello non si scosta! Ma lui rimane lì fermo, impalato, E lei prende 'l su' secchio e s'allontana... Quand'è distante dall'innamorato Canta con rabbia aprendo la gargana: "Fiore di siepe, fiore d'amaranto... Biondino mio non mi guardate tanto: Se Dio ci ha fatto gli occhi per guardare, Ci ha fatto anche la bocca per parlare!"
Text Authorship:
- by Arturo Birga (1871 - 1959)
Go to the general single-text view
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
The chickens scratch about the farmyard, pecking at the scattered grains of corn. Dark-haired peasant girls walk along the path, their loose hair caught by the wind… The chickens scratch about the farmyard, while the pretty country girl draws water from the well and sings a folk song to Luigi who watches her from the gate! To Luigi who watches her in confusion, his eyes full of passion… Poor Luigi is so in love he’s burning up like a processional candle! He’d like to confess his love to her, but when he’s near her he hasn’t the courage… She deliberately takes her time at the well, but he doesn’t move from that gate! He stands there stock-still, as if transfixed, so she takes her pail and walks away… When she’s far from her admirer, she sings in angry tones: “Hedge flower, amaranthus blossom… My handsome blond, don’t just stare at me: God gave us eyes to see with, but he also gave us mouths to speak with!”
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © by Joshua Breitzer, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Arturo Birga (1871 - 1959)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2022-09-27
Line count: 24
Word count: 167