This edition was prepared by Allen Garvin — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Da bei rami scendea
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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Da bei rami scendea by Francesco Portinaro — Lyrics
Chiare, fresche et dolci acque,
ove le belle membra
pose colei che sola a me par donna;
gentil ramo ove piacque
(con sospir' mi rimembra)
a lei di fare al bel fiancho colonna;
herba et fior' che la gonna
leggiadra ricoverse
co l'angelico seno;
aere sacro, sereno,
ove Amor co' begli occhi il cor m'aperse:
date udïenza insieme
a le dolenti mie parole extreme.
S'egli è pur mio destino
e 'l cielo in ciò s'adopra,
ch'Amor quest'occhi lagrimando chiuda,
qualche gratia il meschino
corpo fra voi ricopra,
et torni l'alma al proprio albergo ignuda.
La morte fia men cruda
se questa spene porto
a quel dubbioso passo:
ché lo spirito lasso
non poria mai in piú riposato porto
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About Da bei rami scendea
Francesco Portinaro's Da bei rami scendea is a secular Italian madrigal for SATB choir. Inspired by Petrarch's sonnet, the text paints a vivid picture of a lover recalling the beauty of his beloved resting by a stream. He describes the 'clear, fresh, and sweet waters', the 'gentle branch' that supported her, and the 'grass and flowers' that concealed her form. The music would likely reflect the tender, nostalgic, and ultimately sorrowful mood of the words, as the poet laments his fate and contemplates death. This piece offers an opportunity to explore the expressive possibilities of Renaissance part-music, with its intricate vocal lines and rich harmonic textures.
