For the final supervision, at the start of Easter Term, write an answer to one of the
following questions.
1. Write an analysis of the first two parts of Francesca Caccini’s aria ‘Ardo
infelice’, considering particularly the ways in which her aria reflects the
meaning of, and structures within, the text.
2. How does Schumann’s setting of Nikolaus Lenau’s ‘Kommen und Scheiden’
(Meeting and Parting) reflect feelings of nostalgia and loss expressed in the
poem?
3. Explore how Mack Gordon crafted lyrics in response to Harry Warren’s music
in ‘There will never be another you’.
So oft sie kam, erschien mir die Gestalt
So lieblich wie das erste Grün im Wald.
Und was sie sprach, drang mir zum Herzen ein
Süss wie des Frühlings erstes Lied.
Und als Lebwohl sie winkte mit der Hand,
War’s, ob der letzte Jugendtraum mir schwand.
Each time we met, the sight of her
Seemed as dear as the first green in the wood.
And what she said, pierced my heart
As sweetly as the spring's first song.
And when she waved to me in parting,
Youth's last dream seemed to vanish.
Word order reflecting German:
As often she came, seemed to me her image
as lovely as the first green in the forest
And what she said, pierced me in my heart
Sweet as the spring’s first song
And when in parting she waved with her hand
it was as if the last youthful dream from me vanished.
Ardo infelice, e palesar non tento I burn unhappily, and do not attempt to
show
A chi l’alma mi strugge il foco mio My fire to the one who consumes my soul.
Ben si legge nel volto il mio tormento My torment can be read well on my
face
E l’affanno del cor narra il desio. And my heart’s anguish tells of my desire.
Se talor parlo il fulminar pavento If I sometimes speak up, I fear the lightning
Di quel guardo crudel che mi feri From that cruel look which wounded me
Che quanto ard’il mio cor quanto sospira For as much as my heart burns and
longs
Tanto teme di lui l’orgolio, e l’ira. So it fears [that look’s] pride and anger.
Dell’apre pene mie nunzii dolente As mournful messengers of my harsh
sufferings
Alla bella mia morte invio sospiri To my beautiful death I send my sighs
Ma che pro se per l’aria ‘l par de venti But to what avail, if in the air, like the
wind
Sen vanno i messaggier de miei martiri The messengers of my sufferings blow
about
Amarissime lacrime cocenti Bitter tears that burn
Spargo per far pales’ I miei desiri I shed to let my desires be known
Ma nulla giova e ‘l pianto mio non vede, But nothing helps me, and she does not see
my tears
O per altra cagio nato lo crede. Or believes that they come from some other
cause.
Word order reflecting Italian
Ardo infelice, e palesar non tento I burn unhappily, and do not attempt to
show
A chi l’alma mi strugge il foco mio to the one who my soul consumes my fire.
Ben si legge nel volto il mio tormento Well can be read on my face my
torment
E l’affanno del cor narra il desio. And the anguish of my heart’s tells of my
desire.
Se talor parlo il fulminar pavento If I sometimes speak up, the lightning I fear
Di quel guardo crudel che mi feri From that look cruel which me wounded
Che quanto ard’il mio cor quanto sospira For as much as burns my heart and
longs
Tanto teme di lui l’orgolio, e l’ira. So it fears it’s [that looks] pride and anger.
Dell’apre pene mie nunzii dolente of my harsh sufferings as mournful
messengers
Alla bella mia morte invio sospiri To my beautiful death I send my sighs
Ma che pro se per l’aria ‘l par de venti But to what avail, if in the air, like the
wind
Sen vanno i messaggier de miei martiri blow about the messengers of my sufferings
Amarissime lacrime cocenti Bitter tears that burn
Spargo per far pales’ I miei desiri I shed to let be known my desires
Ma nulla giova e ‘l pianto mio non vede, But nothing helps me and my tears she
doesn’t see
O per altra cagio nato lo crede. Or that from another cause they come she
believes.
This is our last dance together.
Tonight soon will be lon ago.
And in our moment of parting
This is all I want you to know.
There will be many other nights like this,
And I'll be standing here with someone new,
There will be other songs to sing, another fall, another spring,
But there will never be another you.
There will be other lips that I may kiss,
But they won't thrill me like yours used to do,
Yes, I may dream a million dreams,
But how can they come true,
If there will never ever be another you.
