This edition was prepared by Annabel Malton — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Chiudete l'orecchie
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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6 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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Chiudete l'orecchie by Giovanni Priuli — Lyrics
Chiudete l’orecchie,
Donne più sagge,
A i caldi preghi, a i pianti
De gli huomini inconstanti!
Ogni una si specchie;
Nè le schernite,
Nè le tradite,
Tanto ci dolgono,
Fin che ci colgono,
Poi voltan’ mancatori altrove il piè,
Credetelo a mè!
Non sia chi si pieghi
A mendicate parolette a sguardi,
A sospir tronchi e tardi,
A lagrime! a preghi!
Gli antichi esempii
Vi mostron gli empii:
Impareno a piangere,
Solo per frangere
Nostra fermezz’e poi mancar di fè
Credetelo a mè!
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About Chiudete l'orecchie
This secular madrigal for SSAATTBB voices in Italian expresses a woman's fierce warning to her fellow women about the deceitful nature of men. The text advises them to close their ears to the pleas and tears of inconstant men, to learn from ancient examples of betrayal, and to be wary of their honeyed words and feigned sorrow. It recounts the story of Theseus abandoning Ariadne as a prime example of male infidelity, emphasizing that men's promises are only sincere until they have achieved their desires. Giovanni Priuli's setting masterfully captures the dramatic and cautionary tone of the poetry, making it a powerful statement for a skilled choir.
