Barbara Strozzi
1.17

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La quaglia, sonetto burlesco

Duet originally for Soprano and Bass with basso continuo.
Original Language: Italian

Lascia di Libia il ciel l’ardita quaglia
E rivarcato il procelloso Egeo,
Invan cercando il suo crudel marmeo,
Qui nel foco d’amor tutta si squaglia.

Mentre sonora più la voce scaglia
Contro l’amante fuggitivo e reo,
Par che mi desti un impeto Febeo,
E a dir contro di voi l’ira m’assaglia.

Ecco vanno del pari i nostri affanni:
S’ella il capo dibatte, il mio piè trotta;
Si pasce ella di migli, io di mal'anni.

Squaqquera spesso, ed io sospiro a ogn’hotta;
Le penne ha sconcie, ed io squarciati i panni;
Ella adora un marmeo, io una marmotta.

Poet:
Giulio Strozzi
English

The Quail, a comic sonnet

As the brave quail leaves the Libyan sky,
and crosses the stormy Aegean,
searching in vain for her cruel deceiver,
everything melts here in the fire of love.

As she [the quail] hurls her voice
at the fleeing falsehearted lover,
it gives me an Apollonian inspiration,
and anger incites me to disparage you.

Our vexations are alike:
if she shakes her head, I come running;
she feeds on millet, I feed on continual trouble.*

She vents unceasingly, and I sigh constantly;
her feathers are ruffled, and I tear my clothes;
She loves a dolt, I love a demon.

Translated by:

Richard Kolb

* "mal'anno" = a bad year

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Cover of La Qualglia: Sonnetto Burlesco

La Qualglia: Sonnetto Burlesco

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...

  • Barbara Strozzi: Il Primo de Madrigali

    Orlando di Lasso Ensemble

    Thorofon Records (2000) [Audio CD, Digital / MP3]

    • Disc #2 / Track #8 - La Quaglia. Sonetto burlesco (SB, vlg, cetera, hps) [3:42]
    Purchase →
  • The Excellence of Women

    Casulana and Strozzi

    Fieri Consort

    Fieri Records (2024) [Audio CD, Digital / MP3]

    • Track #25 - La quaglia, sonetto burlesco (2 voices, bc) [3:09]
    Purchase →
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