This edition was prepared by André Vierendeels — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Bel fior
Staff Notation • Secular, Lute songs
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Bel fior by Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger — Lyrics
Bel fior ch'al Alb'apri’,
poi langue al fin d'un di'
tal evita marta fe.
Bellezz'e gioventù,
ratta sen fugg'e più,
che vent'o strale.
Quant'e folle o mio cor
chi per legemm'e l'or,
par' che ognor geli e sudi.
Se per l'onde infernal,
scorge il nocchier fatal,
Gli spirit'ignudi.
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About Bel fior
This song for solo voice and lute opens with a musical reflection on the fleeting nature of beauty and youth, drawing a parallel between a flower that blooms and then fades, and the swift passage of time. The text moves to consider the folly of chasing worldly riches, comparing it to a helmsman navigating infernal waves. It questions whether true peace exists amidst conflict, asserting that even kings are merely men. Finally, the music urges the soul to soar beyond earthly concerns, towards its celestial origin, leaving behind the transient glories of the sun and stars. Kapsperger’s setting captures the poignant mood of the Italian text, offering a thoughtful exploration of life’s impermanence.
