Barbara Strozzi (1619—1677)
L'amante segreto

Ensemble 642
Hannah Lane - arpa doppia
Nicholas Pollock - theorbo
Jacob Lawrence - tenor

Recorded live at Medley Hall, Carlton, March 2016.

Voglio, voglio morire,
piuttosto ch'il mio mal venga a scoprire.
Oh, disgrazia fatale!
Quanto più miran gl'occhi il suo bel volto
più tien la bocca il mio desir sepolto;
chi rimedio non ha taccia il suo male.
Non resti di mirar chi non ha sorte,
né può da sì bel ciel venir la morte.
La bella donna mia sovente miro
ed ella a me volge pietoso il guardo,
quasi che voglia dire:
"Palesa il tuo martire"
ché ben s'accorge che mi struggo e ardo.
Ma io voglio morire
piuttosto ch'il mio mal venga a scoprire.
L'erbetta, ch'al cader di fredda brina
languida il capo inchina,
all'apparir del sole
lieta verdeggia più di quel che suole:
tal io, s'alcun timor mi gela il core,
all'apparir di lei prendo vigore.
Ma io voglio morire
piuttosto ch'il mio mal venga a scoprire.
Deh, getta l'arco poderoso e l'armi,
Amor, e lascia omai di saettarmi!
Se non per amor mio
fallo per onor tuo, superbo dio,
perché gloria non è d'un guerrier forte
uccider un che sta vicino a morte.

I just want to die,
rather than let my weakness be discovered.
Oh, inevitable misfortune!
The more my eyes gaze on that beautiful face
the more my mouth will hold my desire entombed;
one who has no remedy stays silent about his pains;
one who has no luck can only look,
accepting his death coming from such a heaven.
I often look at my beloved
who returns a pitying look,
as if she would say,
"Disclose your torment,"
for she is well aware that I am consumed with passion. 
But I would rather die
than let my pain be discovered.
The tender grasses which bow their languishing heads
with the fall of the cold frost,
then when the sun appears
they happily revive from the soil;
just as I, when fear freezes my heart,
become revived when I see her.
But I would rather die
than have my hurt be revealed.
Cupid, throw down your mighty bow and weapons,
and finally stop shooting at me!
If not for the love of me, 
then do it for your own honour, great god,
because there is no glory for a mighty warrior
to kill one who is already so close to death.

English translation by Candace Magner


Barbara Strozzi (1619—1677): L'amante segreto

The Siciliana from Sylvius Leopold Weiss' Sonata in C minor for baroque lute. Hear more of this incredible composer's work in our forthcoming recording project 'Plucked'. Performed by Nicholas Pollock on his Swan neck 13 Course lute after Andreas B Jauch ca.1730 built by Hendrik Hasenfuss 2001.

WeissSW 52 - Siciliana

Ensemble 642 is Hannah Lane (baroque harp) and Nicholas Pollock (theorbo, lutes, baroque guitar). The ensemble explores the unique sound world of  rare, early plucked string instruments, performing music from the late-sixteenth to early-eighteenth centuries, both as a duo and in collaboration with leading  vocalists and instrumentalists.
Inspired by a mutual fascination and passion for the art of basso continuo—an improvisatory practice fundamental to the performance of baroque music—and by their desire to pursue musical experimentation based on historical sources, Ensemble 642 creates innovative concert programs in collaboration with the finest early music performers in Australia and beyond, bringing to life exquisite music that hasn’t been heard for hundreds of years with the aim of sharing the spirit and emotion of baroque music with contemporary audiences.

Ensemble 642

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