Il bianco e dolce cigno
Language: Italian (Italiano) after the Italian (Italiano)
Our translations: DUT ENG
Il bianco e dolce cigno
cantando more, ed io
piangendo, giung' al fin del viver mio.
Stran' e diversa sorte,
ch'ei more sconsolato,
Ed io moro beato.
Morte che nel morire
M'empie di gioia tutt' e di desire;
Se nel morir' altro dolor non sento,
Di mille mort' il di sarei contendo.
About the headline (FAQ)
The text shown is a variant of another text. [ View differences ]
It is based on
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Jacob (aka Jacques or Jachet) Arcadelt (c1505 - c1568), "Il bianco e dolce cigno", published 1539 [ chorus ], madrigal [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Calliope Tsoupaki (b. 1963), "Il Bianco Cigno", 2025, copyright © 2025, first performed 2025 [ mixed chorus and 4 viola da gamba ], Rijswijk : Donemus
Publisher: Donemus [external link]
[sung text not yet checked]
- by Orazio Vecchi (1550 - 1605), "Il bianco e dolce cigno", published 1589 [ chorus ], madrigal [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Tinelot Wittermans) , "De witte en lieflijke zwaan", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Tinelot Wittermans) , no title, copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Calliope Tsoupaki) , copyright ©
- GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Anton Gatscha) , "Der weiße, stille Schwan"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 52
The white and lovely swan
Language: English after the Italian (Italiano)
The white and lovely swan
dies singing, and crying
I reach the end of my life.
Strange is it
that the swan dies without comfort
And that I die joyfully.
A death that fulfills me
With happiness and longing
Because I don't feel other misery (when I die)
I would be happy to die a thousand deaths a day.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles:
"Il Bianco Cigno" = "The White Swan"
"Il bianco e dolce cigno" = "The white and lovely swan"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © by Tinelot Wittermans, (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:
Based on:
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 59
