Un'alma innamorata

Last updated

Handel c. 1710 Georg Friedrich Handel as a young man.jpg
Händel c. 1710

Un'alma innamorata (HWV 173) is a dramatic secular cantata for soprano and instruments written by George Frideric Handel in 1707. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG liiB,92; and HHA v/5,97. [1] The title of the cantata translates as "A soul in love".

Contents

History

The work was written for Ruspoli for performance at his country estate in Vignanello (near Rome). The copyist's bill is dated 30 June 1707. [1] It is possible that the soprano part was composed for the singer Vittoria Tarquini (with whom Handel is rumoured to have had a relationship), and it is known that Vittoria was among the guests at the estate in Vignanello around the time of composition. Although uncertain, the text of the cantata may have been written by Abbé Francesco Mazziotti (who was the tutor of Ruspoli's eldest son).

Synopsis

Even though the work is performed by a female voice, the text does not reveal whether the "voice" of the text is male or female. The text relates that a heart which is faithful in love becomes angry when it is wounded by love, however the singer is happy because it loves more than one heart and spurns the harsh laws and rigours of love (as defined by Cupid).

Structure

The work is scored for violin and keyboard (with occasional figured bass markings in the second movement). The cantata contains three recitative-aria pairings.

A typical performance of the work takes about 15+12 minutes.

Movements

The work consists of six movements:

MvmntTypeKey sig.Time sig.TempoBarsText (Italian)Text (approx. English)Notes
1Recitative4
4
8Un'alma innamorata, prigioniera d'amore, vive troppo infelice. Divien sempre maggiore il mal, che non intende, allor che nell'amar schiava si rende.A soul in love, a prisoner of love, lives too miserably. The pain which it does not understand becomes more and more, once it becomes a slave in loving.
2AriaD minor3
8
140Quel povero core, ferito d'amore sospira, se adira, se vive fedel.

Sia il solo dolore geloso timore, le pene e catene martire crudel.

The poor heart wounded by love, sighs and becomes angry if it lives faithfully.

Let its only pain be jealous fear, and let cruel torments be its chains.

Includes a "Da Capo", "Fine" instruction.
3Recitative4
4
7E pur benche egli veda morta del suo servir, la speme istessa, vuole col suo languir, viver con essa.And even though hope lies dead from its service [of love], its languishing must be lived with.
4AriaF major4
4
Allegro77Io godo, rido e spero ed amo più d'un core e so ridir perché. Se segue il mio pensiero un vagabondo amore cercate voi dov'è.I enjoy, laugh and hope, and love more than one heart, and I know why. If my thought follows a vagabond love, then you go and find where it is.Includes a "Da Capo", "Fine" instruction.
5Recitative4
4
5In quanto a me, ritrovo del riso ogni diletto, se sprezzo dell'amore le sue severe leggi, ed il rigore.As for me, I find the delight of laughter, if I spurn the harsh laws and rigours of love.
6AriaB major3
8
37Ben impari come se ama in amor chi vuol goder. Non ha pari alla mia brama il rigor del nume arcier.Let he who wants to rejoice in love learn how one goes about loving. The severity of the archer-god is not equal to my desire.Three sections (8, 8 and 21 bars)—each with repeat markings. Concludes in F major. The jaunty syncopated rhythms depicts independence of the singer from Cupid. The tempo is like a sarabande (a triple-time dance with a strong second beat); with the violin and the singer in unison.

(Movements do not contain repeat markings unless indicated. The number of bars is the raw number in the manuscript—not including repeat markings. The above is taken from volume 52B, starting at page 92, of the Händel-Gesellschaft edition.)

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>La resurrezione</i> Oratorio by Georg Friedrich Händel

La resurrezione, HWV 47, is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel, set to a libretto by Carlo Sigismondo Capece (1652–1728). Capece was court poet to Queen Marie Casimire of Poland, who was living in exile in Rome. It was first performed on Easter Sunday, 8 April 1708 at Rome, with the backing of the Marchese Francesco Ruspoli, Handel's patron at this time. The work details the events between — and during — Good Friday and Easter Sunday, with the action carried forward in recitative, and exploration of character and delineation of mood taking place in the arias. The characters of the liturgical drama that appear in the oratorio are Lucifer (bass), Mary Magdalene (soprano), an angel (soprano), John the Evangelist (tenor), and Mary Cleophas (alto).

<i>Clori, Tirsi e Fileno</i>

Clori, Tirsi, e Fileno, Cantata a tre, subtitled Cor fedele in vano speri, is a 1707 comic cantata by George Frideric Handel. The subject is a pretty shepherdess who loves two young men, but loses both when they discover her fickleness. Believed lost for many years, the score is the source of arias in some of Handel's later, more celebrated operas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruspoli family</span> Family

The House of Ruspoli is historically one of the great aristocratic families of Rome, but is originally from Florence. Following World War II and the fall of Fascism, the newly established Italian Republic officially abolished titles and hereditary honours in its 1946 Constitution, with the exception of the papal nobility of Rome, as those titles had been created by papal authority.

<i>Dalla guerra amorosa</i>

Dalla guerra amorosa is a secular chamber cantata for either bass or soprano written by Georg Frideric Handel in Italy during 1708–9. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG l,34;. The title of the cantata roughly translates as "From the war of amorous passion".

Salve Regina is an antiphon composed by George Friederic Handel around 1707. It is most likely that the work was first performed for Trinity Sunday in Vignanello on 19 July 1707 in the Church of Santa Maria in Montesanto, under the patronage of the Colonna family. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxxviii, 136.

The Sonata in D minor was composed, circa 1709–15, by George Frideric Handel for recorder and basso continuo. The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 9a. Another catalogue of Handel's music refers to the work as HHA iv/18,19,45.

The Flute sonata in A minor is thought to have been composed by George Frideric Handel, for flute and basso continuo. The date of composition of the work is unknown, but it was first published in 1730. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xlviii, 130; and HHA iv/3,57.

The Flute sonata in B minor is thought to have been composed by George Frideric Handel, for flute and basso continuo. The date of composition of the work is unknown, but it was first published in 1730. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xlviii, 137; and HHA iv/3,68.

The Sonata in G minor was composed by George Frideric Handel for recorder and basso continuo. The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 2, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,9; and HHA iv/3,16.

The Violin sonata in A major was composed by George Frideric Handel for violin and basso continuo. The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 3, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,12; and HHA iv/4,2.

The Sonata in A minor was composed by George Frideric Handel for recorder and basso continuo. The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 4, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii, 15; and HHA iv/3,21.

The Violin sonata in F major is a work for violin and basso continuo that was originally thought to have been composed by George Frideric Handel. Modern scholars however believe it doubtful that the work was composed by Handel, and have labelled it as "spurious". The work is also referred to as Opus 1 No. 12, and was first published in 1732 by Walsh. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xxvii,42; and HHA iv/4,40.

<i>O lucenti, o sereni occhi</i>

O lucenti, o sereni occhi is a dramatic secular cantata for soprano written by Georg Frideric Handel in 1707. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG li, 28;. The title of the cantata translates as "O shining, o serene eyes".

<i>Del bellidolo mio</i> 1707–1709 cantata by Georg Frideric Handel

Del bell'idolo mio is a dramatic secular cantata for soprano written by Georg Frideric Handel in 1707–09. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG l,48. The title of the cantata translates as "Of my beautiful idol".

<i>Aure soavi e lieti</i> (Handel)

Aure soavi e liete is a Baroque dramatic secular cantata in the key of E-flat major composed by George Frideric Handel in 1707 while he was serving as Kapellmeister to the Ruspoli family in Rome. The author of the text is unknown. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG l,12. The cantata is scored for solo soprano voice and basso continuo. It is divided into four separate movements with a typical performance lasting approximately seven and a half minutes.

<i>Tra le fiamme (Il consiglio)</i> 1707 cantata by G. F. Handel

Tra le fiamme (Il consiglio) (HWV 170) is a dramatic secular cantata for soprano and instruments written by George Frideric Handel in 1707. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG liiB,66; and HHA v/5,55. The title of the cantata translates as "In flames (Counsel)".

<i>Gloria</i> (Handel) Composition by George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel's Gloria is a sacred solo cantata, a setting of the Gloria, the liturgical part of the Mass, for soprano and strings. Handel may have composed it in Germany before departing for Italy in 1706. The composition was lost for many years and was attributed to Handel again only in 2001.

<i>Allor chio dissi addio</i> 1708 cantata by Georg Frideric Handel

Allor ch'io dissi addio is a dramatic secular cantata for soprano written by Georg Frideric Handel in 1707–08. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG l,8. The title of the cantata translates as "Then I said goodbye".

<i>Agrippina condotta a morire or Dunque sarà pur vero</i>

Agrippina condotta a morire or Dunque sarà pur vero, HWV110, is a dramatic secular cantata for soprano, two violins and continuo, composed by George Frideric Handel while he was in Italy, at some time between 1707 and 1708. The anonymous text depicts Roman empress Agrippina the Younger on the way to her execution, which was ordered by her son, the emperor Nero, whom she had schemed to put on the throne. The cantata is approximately fifteen minutes in length; its title may be translated as "Agrippina condemned to die".

<i>Der Messias</i>

Der Messias, K. 572, is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 1789 German-language version of Messiah, George Frideric Handel's 1741 oratorio. On the initiative of Gottfried van Swieten, Mozart adapted Handel's work for performances in Vienna.

References

  1. 1 2 Hicks, Anthony (2001). "Handel, George Frideric". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians . Vol. x (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan. p. 790.

Further reading