Composers, poetesses and dedicatees:

A Tribute to the Art Song by Women

Song Texts and Translations

L'Eraclito amoroso “Heraclitus in love”

from Cantate, ariette e duetti, op. 2 (1651)
Barbara Strozzi.
Poem by an unknown author.

Udite amanti la cagione, oh Dio, Listen you lovers, to the cause, oh God,
ch'a. lagrimar mi porta: of my weeping:
nell'adorato e bello idolo mio, in my handsome and adored idol,
che sì fido credei, la fede è morta. whom I believed to be faithful, faith is dead.

Vaghezza ho sol di piangere, I have pleasure only in weeping,

mi pasco sol di lagrime, I nourish myself only with tears.
il duolo è mia delizia Grief is my delight
e son miei gioie i gemiti. and moans are my joys.
Ogni martire aggradami, Every anguish gives me pleasure,
ogni dolor dilettami, every pain delights me,
i singulti mi sanano, sobs heal me,
i sospir mi consolano. sighs console me.

Ma se la fede negami But if that inconstant traitor

quell'incostante e perfido, denies me constancy,
almen fede serbatemi at least let my devotion serve me
sino alla morte, o lagrime! until death, o tears!
Ogni tristezza assalgami, Every sadness soothes me,
ogni cordoglio eternisi, every sorrow sustains itself,
tanto ogni male affliggami every ill afflicts me so much
che m'uccida e sotterrimi. that it slays and buries me.

Translation: Barbara Strozzi: La Virtuosissima

Cantatrice. [Link]

Fin che tu spiri “As long as you breathe”

from Diporti di Euterpe, op. 7 (1659)
Barbara Strozzi. Rottilio Lepidi, poem.

Fin che tu spiri, spera. As long as you breathe, hope.

Moribondo mio core, My dying heart,
Fu costante al dolore; you have been steadfast in suffering;
Regna il diletto ove il tormento impera. delight reigns where torment commands.
Fin che tu spiri, spera. As long as you breathe, hope.

Se il tuo fato vuol ch'adori If your fate decrees that you adore
Una sorda deità, a deaf goddess,
La tua fede spiegherà your faith will display
Il troffeo di quei rigori. the trophy of those hardships.

Atra nube il sol discaccia, A dark cloud scatters the sun,

Alla notte alba succede dawn follows night,
E del verno al fin si vede and, in the end, winter
Trionfar la primavera. yields to the triumph of spring.
Fin che tu spiri, spera. As long as you breathe, hope.

Su dunque, datti pace, So then, take comfort,

Quella fiamma, quel dardo, for that flame, that dart,
Ch'uscì dal ciel d'un guardo, that left heaven in a glance,
Sarà fulmine e face will be both lightning and fire,
Possente a incenerire i tuoi martiri; powerful enough to consume your suffering.
Con l'aura de' sospiri With the breeze of your sighs,
Tranquillerai quell'ocean crudele. you will calm that cruel ocean.
Tronca le tue querele, Cease your complaints,
Armati di costanza: arm yourself with constancy:
Idolo de gl'amanti è la speranza.
hope is the idol of lovers.
Se con i pianti Orfeo
If Orpheus, with his tears,
Averno impietosì,
softened the underworld,
Se con arco Rifeo
if Ripheus, with his bow,
La crudeltà ferì,
struck down cruelty,
Non disperar ch'un dì
do not despair that one day
Il tuo duol renderà
your suffering will make
Pietosa l'empietà:
the pitiless feel pity:
Che vince sofferenza alma di fera.
for endurance conquers even the soul of a wild beast.
Fin che tu spiri, spera.
As long as you breathe, hope.
Translation based on Barbara Strozzi,
[Link]

Godere et tacere “Delight and be silent “

from Il Primo Libro de Madrigali, op. 1 (1644)
Barbara Strozzi.
Giulio Strozzi, poem.
 Gioisca al gioir nostro e l’aura e l’onda, The breeze and streams rejoice in our joy,
Scherzin tra l’erbe e i fiori the wanton Cupids
I lascivetti Amori, play among the grasses and flowers,
A nostri dolci canti eccho risponda. and echo responds to our sweet songs.

In questo lieto e fortunato giorno On this joyful and auspicious day

Volin le Gratie intorno, the graces fly around us,
Vengan sul labbro i cori our hearts come to our lips,
E s’annodino l’alme al suon de’ baci. and our souls unite to the sound of kisses.
Ah, non dir più, taci, mia lingua, taci! Ah, say nothing more, my mouth, be silent.
Translation based on Barbara Strozzi,
[Link]

I Baci “Kisses”
from Cantate, ariette, e duetti, op. 2 (1651)
Barbara Strozzi.
Poem by an unknown author.

Oh dolci, oh cari, oh desiati baci! Oh sweet, dear, oh longed-for kisses!

Unite l'alme vanno Souls come together,
sul labro ad incontrarsi. meeting on the lips.
Col bacio l'alme fanno With a kiss, souls
nel cor gran colpi darsi. deal great blows to the heart.
Vezzosette si accordano; Charming, they harmonize;
viperette si mordano. like little vipers, they bite each other.
Ma sono i lor dolcissimi furori Yet in their sweetest fury
grand union dei cori. lies a profound union of hearts.
Oh dolci, oh cari, oh desiati baci! Oh sweet, dear, oh longed-for kisses!
Bacia, mia bocca, e taci! Kiss, my mouth, and be silent!
Translation based on Barbara Strozzi,
[Link]
Canciones modales (1963) “Modal songs”
María Teresa Prieto

Si ves el ciervo herido “If you see the wounded deer”

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, poem.

Si ves el ciervo herido If you see the wounded deer

que baja por el monte, acelerado rushing down the hill,
buscando dolorido seeking, in its pain,
alivio del mal en un arroyo helado, relief for its wound in a cold stream,
y sediento al cristal se precipita, and thirstily rushing toward the crystal,
no en el alivio en el dolor me imita, it imitates me too, not in relief, but in pain.

Si ves el cielo claro, If you see the clear sky,

tal es la sencillez del alma mía; that is the simplicity of my soul;
y si, de luz avaro, and if, greedy for light,
de tinieblas emboza el claro día, the clear day is veiled in shadows,
es con su oscuridad y su inclemencia, it is with its darkness and severity,
imagen de mi vida en esta ausencia. the image of my life in this absence.

Sonatina Sonatina
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, poem.

Rosa que al prado, encarnada, Red rose blooming in the meadow,

te ostentas presuntuosa you proudly show yourself,
de grana y carmín bañada: bathed in rich crimson and carmine;
campa lozana y gustosa; you flourish, lush and delightful;
pero no, que siendo hermosa but beware, for in your beauty,
también serás desdichada. you will also know sorrow.

¿Ves, de tu candor que apura Do you see how your innocence

al alba el primer albor? is brightened by the first light of dawn?
Pues tanto el riesgo es mayor The greater your beauty,
cuanto es mayor la hermosura. the greater the risk you face.
[…] […]
que si consientes, errada, If you allow, misguided,
que te corte mano osada a bold hand to tear you away,
[…] […]
en perdiéndose el color as your color fades,
también serás desdichada. you too will know sorrow.

De Extremadura a León “From Extremadura to León”

Alejandro Casona, poem.
De Extremadura a León, From Extremadura to León,
los setos y los espinos the hedgerows and thorns
peinan al paso la lana groom, as they pass, the wool
de los rebaños merinos. of the merino flocks.

Río blanco de vellón: White river of fleece:

zamarra de los caminos sheepskin of the roads
de Extremadura a León. from Extremadura to León.

Esta verde hierba “This verdant grass”

Maria Teresa Prieto, poem.

Esta verde hierba; This verdant grass;

esa fresca agua; that fresh water;
esta sombra dulce; this sweet shade;
esa luna clara; that bright moon;
el sentido duerme; the senses rest;
el dolor aplacan. pain subsides.

Esta brisa tibia; This gentle breeze;

esa luz tan diáfana that luminous clarity
de estrellas que alumbran of stars shining
en la noche plácida, on the tranquil night;
el sentido duermen; the senses rest;
la inquietud apagan. anxieties fade.

Este prado ameno This pleasant meadow

de azucenas blancas, of white lilies,
teñidas en púrpura tinged with purple
de luciente llama, from a radiant flame;
el sentido duermen, the senses sleep,
y a Dios vuela el alma. and the soul soars to God.

Cristo en la tarde “Christ at Dusk”

Carlos Bousoño Prieto, poem.

"Yo soy la luz." Miraba hacia la tarde. "I am the light." He gazed toward the evening.
Un polvo gris caía tenue, lento. A gray dust fell, soft and slow.
Era la vida un soplo, un dulce engaño; Life was but a breath, a sweet deception;
sombra, suspiro, sueño. shadow, sigh, dream.

Ya su figura por los olivares

se iba desvaneciendo Already his figure among the olive trees
en soledad. Ni un pájaro existía. was fading away,
... La tarde iba cediendo. alone. Not a bird was to be found.
... The evening was fading.
"Yo soy la luz". Silencio. "Soy...Oídme..."
Espacio. Olivo. Cielo. "I am the light." Silence. "I am... Hear me..."
"Yo soy la luz." Su voz era un susurro. Space. Olive tree. Sky.
El aire, ceniciento. "I am the light." His voice was a whisper.
The air, heavy with ash.
"Yo soy la luz”. La sombra lo envolvía.
Cayó la noche. Se escuchaba el viento. "I am the light." The shadow surrounded him.
Night fell. The wind could be heard.

¿Quién dijo acaso? “Who might have said, perhaps”

Vicente Aleixandre, poem.

¿Quién dijo acaso que la mar suspira, Who might have said, perhaps the sea sighs,
labio de amor hacia las playas, triste? a lover's breath toward the shores, so sad?
Dejad que envuelta por la luz campee. Let it roam, wrapped in light.
¡Gloria, gloria en la altura, y en la mar, el oro! Glory, glory in the heights, and in the sea, the gold!

¡Ah soberana luz que envuelve, canta Oh, sovereign light that surrounds, sing
la inmarcesible edad del mar gozante! the eternal age of the joyful sea!
Allá, reverberando, There, reverberating,
sin tiempo, el mar existe. without time, the sea exists.
¡Un corazón de Dios, sin muerte, late! A deathless heart of God beats!

Translations by Monica Espindola-Mata

Two poems for soprano and piano (1994)
Liana Alexandra
Jacques Itterbeek, poems.

Poem pentru Madona de la Neamţ “Poema for the Madonna of Neamţ”

Singurul gest uman e atingerea vălului ei, The only human gesture is the touch of her veil,
vălul dulce și mângâietor the sweet and comforting veil
cade pe pieptul Madonei. falls upon the chest of the Madonna.
Și-n același timp ochii ei mă privesc, And at the same time, her eyes gaze at me,
ca și cum ar dori să îmi povestească as though she wished to tell me
toată durerea care o așteaptă, all the sorrow that awaits her,
apăsătoare și tristă. heavy and sad.

Doar în ea mă recunosc, Only in her do I recognize myself,

în Iisus cel așezat pe tron, in Jesus seated upon the throne,
pe tronul brațului ei nevăzut. on the throne of her invisible arm.
Doar în ea mă recunosc. Only in her do I recognize myself.

Mă apropii de ea. I draw near to her.

În ochii ei, In her eyes,
îmi las ochii să se liniștească de tot. I let my own eyes find complete peace.

Mă apropii de ea. I draw near to her.

În ochii ei, In her eyes,
îmi las ochii să se liniștească. I let my own eyes find calm.

Singurul gest uman e atingerea vălului ei, The only human gesture is the touch of her veil,
vălul dulce, mângâietor the sweet and comforting veil
cade pe pieptul Madonei. falls upon the chest of the Madonna.

Poem pentru România “Poem for Romania”

Tu ești toată numai parfum de miere You are entirely the fragrance of honey,
suind din undele matinale rising from the morning waves,
ce se-nalţă asemeni unei aripi de gigant soaring like the wing of a giant,
ancorate în pământul tău. anchored in your land.

Tu ești toată numai parfum de miere You are entirely the fragrance of honey,
ce urcă din ochii visului plin de dorinţe. rising from the eyes of dreams full of desires.
Tu ești toată numai parfum de miere You are entirely the fragrance of honey,
iar pe pământul mătăsos și tandru and on the silky, tender earth,
Înfloresc salcâmii albi și nuferii, white acacias and water lilies bloom—
nuferii zâmbind luminii. lilies smiling at the light.

Și ascult cu Bacovia materia plângând, I listen with Bacovia to weeping matter,

și cântecele şi murmurul monoton to the songs and monotonous murmur
între pereţii celeşti between heavenly walls,
pecare Domnul le înnobilează întru biserici, which the Lord ennobles within churches,
pecare sunt pictate lumea, where the world is painted—
Vechiul și Noul Testament. the Old and New Testaments.

Tu ești toată numai parfum de miere You are entirely the fragrance of honey,
suind din undele matinale rising from the morning waves,
ce se-nalţă asemeni soaring like the wing of a giant,
unei aripi de gigant anchored in your land,
ancorate în pământul tău, where the world is painted—
pecare sunt pictate lumea, the Old and New Testaments.
Vechiul și Noul Testament.

Translations by Adelina Gherman.

Lūcija Garūta
(songs, ca. 1930)

Džanemas diezma “Džanemas’ song”

Lūcija Garūta, text and music.

A, Kādēļ laime gaiša tik ātri irst? Ah, why does bright joy fade so swiftly?
Kādēļ mīlas sapņi tik ātri mirst? Why do dreams of love die so quickly?
Kādēļ zemes īso skaisto dzīvi Why is this earth’s brief, beautiful life
nomāc smagas sāpes, Weighed down by heavy sorrow?
šis zemes īso dzīvi, This earth’s short life—
kadēļ tonomāc sāpes? Why must it be burdened by pain?
Ak, kādēļ ātri laime gaiša irst? Ah, why does bright joy fade so swiftly?
A… Ah…

Vakara blāzma “Evening glow”

Lūcija Garūta, text and music.

Pie debess zelta vakarblāzma In the sky, a golden evening glow

un acīs zelta stari tev. and in your eyes, a glimmer of gold.
Es raugos tavu acu mirdzā, I gaze into the sparkle of your eyes,
“Kur viņa rodas?” prasu sev. "Where does this little spark come from?" I asked.

Man šķiet, ka nav tā vakarblāzma, It seems to me that it is not that evening glow
kas tavās acīs dzirkst un smej; which sparkles and laughs in your eyes.
Man šķiet, ka tavu acu mirdza It seems to me that your eyes glow
pār debess telpu gaismu leļ. across the vast, glowing sky.

Šķiŗoties “Parting”

Lūcija Garūta, text and music.

Šī dzīve sapnis vien, This life is but a dream,

šī dzīve sapnis vien, this life is but a dream,
Kas šodien dvēseli sien, Which today binds the soul,
Rītu mūžības jūrā brien. Tomorrow wades into the sea of eternity.

Viss nāk un zūd, All comes and fades,

Tik sapnis mūžīgs un jauks, Only the dream remains eternal and lovely,
Par sapni gaišo tev paldies, For the bright dream, thank you,
mans draugs! my friend!

Ļauj tavus skatus tvert, Let me grasp your gaze,

ļauj viņu dzelmes dzert, let me drink its depths,
nu reizi pēdējo šais acīs raugos es. now, for the last time, I look into these eyes.

Uz lielo mūžību iet gaišais To the great eternity goes my bright

sapnis mans un tu; dream and you;
šis mirklis projām jūs nes. this moment carries you away.

Šī dzīve sapnis vien, This life is but a dream,

šī dzīve sapnis vien, this life is but a dream,
Kas šodien dvēseli sien, Which today binds the soul,
Rītu mūžības jūrā brien. Tomorrow wades into the sea of eternity.

Ardievu draugs, Farewell, friend,

Tu dienu saulaino draugs, You, the sunny days' friend,
Lai bez asarām mirst sapnis jauks; Let the lovely dream die without tears;
Visu mūžība lielā reiz sauks, All will once be called by great eternity,
Viss kā sapnis reiz mūžībā trauks, Everything, like a dream, will once rush into eternity,
Par sapni paldies tev, draugs. For the dream, thank you, my friend.

Lietiņš
“Little Spring Rain”
Kārlis Skalbe, poem.
Lūcija Garūta, music.

Mirdz pavasara lietiņš

kā viegls zelta sietiņš. The little spring rain shines bright,
Kas gan no viņa bijās? Like a soft golden net of light.
Viss tinas pērļu dzijās. Who could fear it?
Everything wraps in pearl-like threads.
Lai rasina, cik tīkas!
Ceļ asni galvas līkās. Let it water, so pure!
Shoots rise with a gentle curve.
No visām zemes spraugām
var redzēt zāli augam. From every crack in the ground,
Mirdz pavasara lietiņš We see the grass coming up all around.
Mirdz, mirdz… The little spring rain shines bright,
Shines, shines...

Pavasars nāk

Lūcija Garūta, text and music. “Spring is Coming”

Pār tālajām jūrām,

uz mākoņu burām, pavasars nāk! Over the distant seas,
Pār stingušiem mastjem, on the clouds' sails, spring is coming!
pār ledainiem krastiem, pavasars nāk! Over the frozen masts,
Uz ledainām žņaugām, over the icy shores, spring is coming!
patumšajām spraugām, On the frozen strangling ropes,
jau mirdzoši ūdeņi burbuļot sāk. through the darkened cracks,
shimmering waters begin to bubble.

Pār kalniem, pār gravām, Over the mountains, over the valleys,
pār mežiem, pār pļavām, pavasars nāk! over the forests, over the meadows,
Pa vārtiem, pa žogiem, spring is coming!
pa durvīm, pa logiem, pavasars nāk! Through the gates, through the fences,
Un tālajās pļavās, through the doors, through the windows,
zeltsaulītes skayās, spring is coming!
jau bālzaļa zālite raudzīties sāk. And in the distant meadows,
golden sunbeams gleam,
the pale green grass begins to look up.
Caur pusnakts telpu,
ar smaržainu elpu, pavasars nāk! Through the midnight space,
Ar nakts vēsmu glāstiem, with fragrant breath, spring is coming!
ar teiksmainiem stāstiem, pavasars nāk! With the night's breeze caressing,
Un gaismiņai svīstot, with legendary tales, spring is coming!
dzird pumpurus plīstot, ak! And as the light sweats,
Caur pusnakts baismu, we hear the buds burst, oh!
ar rīta gaismu, pavasars nāk! Through the midnight fear,
with the morning light, spring is coming!
Ar saulīti smiedams,
ar vēsmiņām diedams, pavasars nāk! With the sun smiling,
Nu sauli tverat, with the coolness singing, spring is coming!
nu gaismu dzerat! Now you catch the sun,
Nu gaisma, nu saule, now you drink the light!
nu pavasars nāk! Now the light, now the sun,
now spring is coming!

Translations by Dr. Ināra Zandmane