Giulio Caccini, one of the greatest masters of the art song in the early Italian Baroque era, has been often overshadowed by his more famous contemporaries, Claudio Monteverdi and Giovanni Gabrieli. This particularly elaborate aria by Caccini contains a virtuosic flare and dramatic effect similarly present in the opera movements and madrigals of Monteverdi from the same decade. As was customary in that period, Caccini wrote out, in detail, every note of every ornament and division.
This soundtrack was created using Vocaloid 4 with the English language soprano voice bank known as Prima V2. The instrumental track consisting of violin, chittarone and bass viol were generated with Music Studio 2 on theiPhone. The original MIDI file without the sung text was created by Sarge Gerbode and can be found at lutemusic.org.
Text (with translations)
Alme luci beate (Souls, blessed lights)
Che dolcemente ardeste (that sweetly burned)
E dolce distruggeste (and gently destroyed)
L'incenerito core, (the incinerated heart)
Chi di bei lampi or farà lieto Amore? (who with beautiful light now makes happy love?)
Io vi lasso mie scorte, (I leave you, my escorts)
Io mi parto bei numi, (I am leaving beautiful gods)
Io vò lungi miei numi, (I go far, my gods)
E non ho spem' ohimè che mi conforte. (and I have no hope alas that comforts me)
Alme luci beate, (Souls, blessed lights)
Se per si lunga etate (If for a long time)
Amando e rimirando (loving and gazing)
Voi foste il mio gioire, (you were my joy)
Or per si lunga etate (Now for such a long time)
Amando e rimembrando (loving and remembering)
Sarete il mio martire. (You will be my martyr)
Description of the photos:
1. "Alme luci beate," full score of the solo soprano and basso continuo, Giulio Caccini, Nuove Musiche e nuova maniera di scriverle, 1614
2. Woman playing lute, Gaspar de Crayer, c1630
3. Musical group on a balcony, Gerrit van Honthorst, 1622
4. Terpsichore with a chiatarrone, Giovanni Baglione, 1620
5. Concert, Gerrit van Honthorst, 1624
6. Young lady playing viola da gamba, Anthony van Dyck, c1635
7. Woman with violin, Orazio Gentileschi, c1612
8. Close up of an early Baroque violin by Girolamo Amati, 1609
9. Galley musicians (with violin, cornetto and chiatarrone), Colonna and Mitelli, fresco from Palazzo Ducale Sassuolo, c1647
10. Saint Cecilia playing violin, Domenichino, c1618
11. Angel playing violin, Anon. Italian, 17th Century
