Barbara Strozzi
3.02

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Moralità amorosa

Originally for Soprano and basso continuo.
Original Language: Italian

Sorge il mio sol con mattutini albori,
E intento a coltivar beltà divine
Con profumi odorosi incensa il crine
Per aditar altrui come s'adori.

Poscia con sottilissimi candori
Sparge del aureo capo ogni confine,
Che di polve di Cipri argente e brine
Fanno officio di smalto in su quegli ori.

Mentre così in bella man s'impiega,
E fra ceneri e fumi il crine involve,
In catene di foco il cor mi lega.

Che meraviglia è poi se si dissolve
La bellezza in brev'ora, e chi mi nega
Che fugace non sia, s'è fumo e polve.

English

Love's Moral

My love rises with the early dawn,
and intent on cultivating divine beauty,
with fragrant scents perfumes her hair
to show the world how adornment is done.

Then with finest whiteners
she sprinkles her golden hair all over,
with Cypress powder of silver and frost
giving the effect of enamel overlaid upon the gold.

As her beautiful hands are thus employed,
and her hair is infused with ashes and smoke,
my heart is bound in chains of fire.

So it's hardly a marvel that
beauty dissolves quickly, and who can deny
that it must be fleeting, since it's smoke and dust.

Translated by:

Richard Kolb

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Cover of Moralità Amorosa

Moralità Amorosa

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...

  • Arias and Duets

    Christine Brandes, soprano, Jennifer Lane, mezzo-soprano, Kurt-Owen Richards, bass, New York Baroque, Eric Milnes, conductor

    Dorian (2001) [Audio CD, Digital / MP3]

    • Track #10 - Moralità amorosa - Sorge il mio sol, Op 3 (S, bc) [4:01]
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  • Barbara Strozzi - A Voce Sola

    Renata Dubinskaite, Canto Fiorito, Rodrigo Calveyra, Juan Manuel Quintana, Diego Cantalupi, Davide Pozzi

    Brilliant Classics (2021) [Audio CD, Digital / MP3]

    • Track #3 - Moralità amorosa (mezzo-soprano, bc) [3:53]
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  • Cantatas

    Judith Nelson

    Harmonia Mundi (2004) [Audio CD]

    • Moralità amorosa, Op 3 (S, bc, hpsc, harp) [3:44]
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  • Cantate

    Isabelle Poulenard

    ADDA (1989) [Audio CD]

    • Track #3 - Moralità amorosa - Sorge il nio sol, Op 3 (S, bc) [3:44]
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  • Concerto Delle Donne

    Musique italienne du XVIIe siècle de compositeurs féminins

    La Primavera, Clémence Comte, soprano, Johannette Zomer, soprano, Robert Expert, alto

    Ligia Digital (2003) [Audio CD]

    • Moralità amorosa - Solge il mio sol, Op 3 (S, bc) [4:18]
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  • Oh! Ravishing Delight

    The Musicke Companye, Philippa Hyde, soprano, Jennifer Janse, cello, Helen Rogers, harpsichord

    Ensemble Music [Audio CD]

    • Moralità amorosa, Op 3 (S, bc)
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  • The Excellence of Women

    Casulana and Strozzi

    Fieri Consort

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

    • Track #11 - Moralità amorosa (voices, bc) [4:01]
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