Barbara Strozzi
2.04

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Costume de grandi

Originally for Soprano, basso continuo, and 2 violins.

"from La finta pazza, 1641", Giulio Strozzi's libretto for the opera by Sacrati.

Original Language: Italian

Godere e lasciare
Costuman gl'amanti,
Bugiardi, incostanti,
Le cose più care.
Onde chi mente più spera più lode:
S'inganna e si gode.

Con ladri comandi
Si ruba il piacere:
Sprezzare e godere
Costume è de' grandi.
Onde chi ruba più spera più lode:
S'inganna e si gode.

Al grande e saputo
Non mai si conviene
Goder e dir bene
Del ben c'hà goduto.
Onde chi biasma più spera più lode:
S'inganna e si gode.

Poet:
Giulio Strozzi
English

The Customs of the Great

To enjoy and move on
is the way of lovers—
lying, inconstant—
with the most precious things.
They who lie most expect the most praise:
they cheat and enjoy it.

With thieving intentions
they seize pleasure:
to debase and consume,
that’s the way of high society.
Thus, they who steal most expect the most praise:
they cheat and enjoy it.

In high society it is well known
that it is never becoming
to enjoy and esteem
what has been enjoyed.
Thus, they who disparage most expect most praise:
they cheat and enjoy it.

Translated by:

Candace A. Magner

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Cover of Costume de Grandi

Costume de Grandi

Published by Cor Donato Editions in historically correct modern transcription, including critical introductory notes on the work, editorial procedures, original texts with new English translations, and other contextual information about the piece.

Now available at CorDonatoEditions.com!

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Find recordings...

  • Arie, Lamenti e Cantate

    Susanne Rydén, soprano, Musica Fiorita

    Harmonia Mundi (2000) [Audio CD, Digital / MP3]

    • Track #2 - Costume de grandi, Op 2 (S, 2 vln, bc) [3:08]
    Purchase →
  • Barbara Strozzi

    arie e duetti

    director, Gabriel Garrido, Victor Aragon - viola da gamba, violone, Ryoko Katayama - harpsichord, organ, Il Segreto delle muse ensemble, Marie-Laure Coenjaerts - mezzo-soprano, Florence Susant Florence - soprano, Jasper Bärtling-Lippina - lutes-guitars, Mathias Ferré - viola da gamba, Luce Courceulles - harp, Xavier Sichel - violin, Saskia Birchler - violin

    Pan Classics (2024) [Audio CD, Digital / MP3]

    • Track #10 - Costumi de grandi (voice, bc, vln) [4:13]
    Purchase →
  • Barbara Strozzi: Cantate and Arie

    Ensemble Poïésis

    Aeon [Audio CD, Digital / MP3]

    • Track #8 - Costume de grandi, Op 2 (S, 2 vln, bc) [4:35]
    Purchase →
  • La Vendetta

    Roberta Invernizzi, soprano, Bizzarrie Armoniche Ensemble

    ORF [Audio CD]

    • Costume de' grandi - Godere e lasciare, Op 2 (S, bc, 2 vln)
  • Passioni, Vizi, e Virtù

    Consort Baroque Laurentia, Peggy Bélanger, soprano, Michel Angers, theorbo

    stradivarius (2014) [Audio CD, Digital / MP3]

    • Costume de grandi, Op 2 (S, th, 2 vln) [4:01]
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