This edition was prepared by Willem Verkaik — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
I' mi vivea di mia sorte contento
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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I' mi vivea di mia sorte contento by Gioseffo Guami — Lyrics
(Trema, che il male sopravenuto a Laura negli occhi, lo privi della lor vista.)
I'mi vivea di mia sorte contento,
Senza lagrime, e senza invidia alcuna:
Che s'altro amante ha più destra fortuna,
Mille piacer non vaglion un tormento.
Hor quei begli occhi, onde mai non mi pento
Delle mie pene, e men non ne voglio una,
Tal nebbia copre, sì gravosa e bruna,
Che'l Sol de la mia vita ha quasi spento.
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About I' mi vivea di mia sorte contento
Gioseffo Guami's madrigal I' mi vivea di mia sorte contento is a poignant expression of unrequited love, drawn from Petrarch's Canzoniere. The text laments the sudden affliction of Laura's eyes, which plunges the narrator into darkness and despair, despite his previous contentment. He questions nature and a higher power for allowing such beauty to be marred. This setting for SAATB voices masterfully captures the emotional turmoil of the text. The intricate vocal interplay reflects the speaker's profound distress and philosophical questioning. Guami's skill in word painting brings the sonnet's dramatic narrative to vivid life, making it a compelling choice for any secular vocal ensemble seeking to explore the dramatic possibilities of the Italian madrigal tradition.
