Asia felice By: Andrea Gabrieli

Editions

Singable Translation PDF By: Carol Anne Perry Lagemann (CC BY SA 4.0)

Info

Number of Voices: 4
Voicings: SATB , AATB
Date: 16th century
Language: Italian
Tags: madrigal translation social commentary

Lyrics

LyricsPoetic Translation
Asia felice hor ben posso chiamarmiI, Asia, justly call myself contented;
Ch’è vint’in mar di me l’empio nemico.At sea my enemy now is defeated.
Ma più sarò quando con gaudio l’armiBut joy will come when, with glad arms presented,
De’ figli miei faransi ogn’un amico.My sons have all the world in friendship greeted.
Et io più all’hor felice Affrica pieneI, Africa, am happier, as flooded
Havrò di frutti e fior l’aride areneWith fruits are fertile lands, Nature's successes,
E, per campagne più che mai fecondeAnd flowing through the fields with flowers studded,
Porterà il Nilo al mar d’argento l’onde.Unto the silver sea the Nile progresses.
Felice Europa anch’io godo non menoI, Europe, revel, joy no less than my neighbors,
Che più che mai con gloriose proveIn forceful charm and glory undivided.
Hor sotto un vero Dio, non falso GioveWith God, not Jove of pagans, to spur my labors,
Havrò del mond’ un’ altra volta il freno.I take the world now in my hand and guide it.
Andrea GabrieliCarol Anne Perry Lagemann

Direct Translation

See Mick Swithinbank's work at Choral Public Domain Library.