Barbara Strozzi

Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677) was an Italian Baroque singer, poet, and composer in Venice, Italy. Her father encouraged her musical talent and even went so far as to create an academy where she could perform publicly. She is thought to be the most prolific composer of secular vocal music in Venice at this time.

Our first video today is beautifully sung and feels to me like a sweet, hopping bird. It is called Amor Dormiglione - Love Song of the Renaissance.

Parent Note: 1:30-1:50 has a piece of art with a woman's chest barely covered.

We have a couple of other videos that give us more examples of Strozzi's work, including Che si Puo Fare? which gives us a good view of several instruments.

L’amante segreto / The secret lover

I’d rather die
than have my woes revealed.
Oh, the deadly disgrace!
The more my eyes admire her beautiful face
the more I shut my mouth and hide my desire;
an illness is hushed up if there’s no cure.
All that can been seen is a hapless man
and death coming from so beautiful a sky.
Often I gaze on my beautiful woman
and she gives me a pitying look,
almost as if to say:
"Reveal yourself, you martyr",
she knows how I suffer and burn with love.

But I’d rather die
than have my woes revealed.

When a cold frost comes
the grass bows down its languid head,
but when the sun appears
it grows lush and verdant over the ground:
so I, if fear freezes my heart,
gain strength when she appears.

But I’d rather die
than have my woes revealed.

Ah, throw down your mighty bow and arrows,
Cupid, and stop shooting me!
If not for my sake
do it for your own honour, proud god,
because there’s no glory for a valiant warrior
in killing one who is already close to death.

Che si può fare? / What Can I Do?

What can I do?
The stars have no pity and work against me;
If heaven will give me no gesture
Of peace for my pain,
What can I do?

What can I say?
The heavens are raining disasters on me;
If Love will not grant me a moment of breath,
to relieve all my suffering,
What can I say?