This edition was prepared by Willem Verkaik — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Apertamente dicea la gente
Staff Notation • Secular, Villanellas
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Apertamente dicea la gente by Giovanni Francesco Anerio — Lyrics
Apertamente
dicea la gente,
L'alto preggio di quest'al fin sen và:
Sua gran beltade, per troppo etade,
Quasi Febo nel mar tosto cadrà.
I vaghi fiori,
I bei colori,
Di che la guancia un tempo alma fiori,
Impalliditi son si smarriti
Come rosa di Maggio a mezzo il di.
Sotto sue ciglia,
O meraviglia,
Il bel foco d'Amor non arde più:
Sol vi si scorge lume, Che porge
segno del grand'ardor, che ivi già fù.
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About Apertamente dicea la gente
Anerio’s Apertamente dicea la gente is a delightful and light-hearted villanella for two sopranos. The music immediately captures the witty and conversational tone of the text, with playful melodic lines and a bright, responsive texture. The Italian lyrics comment on the fleeting nature of beauty and youth, observing how even the most radiant features inevitably fade with time, comparing them to a wilting rose. Despite this melancholic theme, the music maintains an optimistic spirit, celebrating the enduring power of love and the sweet pleasure it brings, even as physical beauty wanes. This charming piece offers a wonderful opportunity for expressive singing and a delightful contrast in any concert programme.
