Francesca Caccini (1587-c.1630): Maria, dolce Maria
Berit Norbakken, soprano
Karl Nyhlin, theorbo
Oct 2023
Linderud Gård, Oslo
***
The Italian singer and composer Francesca Caccini was born into a family of musicians in Florence. She had a quite extraordinary career: she served at the court of Tuscany under three Grand Dukes: Ferdinando I, Cosimo II, and Ferdinando II, and was the highest paid composer at the Medici court in Florence. Her father was the famous composer, singer and member of the Florentine Camerata, Giulio Caccini. He and the composer Jacopo Peri are credited to have written the first known operas of music history.
Caccinis daughter Francesca took probably part in these opera productions.
The Caccini family also formed a consort of family singers, and went on tour, even to Paris in 1604. There she was offered an employment at the French court by king Henry IV, but in the Duke in Florence, Ferdinando I would not let her go.
Back in Florence, she worked as composer, singer and teacher at the court. She composed at least 12 stage works, we would say "opera" today, but she called them "balletti", set to her own poetry, in both Italian and Latin. In addition, she wrote music for numerous courtly entertainments, for example the Carnival season or to mark important occasions in the lives of her patrons. Only one opera, "La liberazione di Ruggiero d’al isola d’Alcina" (1625) has survived, it is the first opera in music history written by a woman.The music score was - very unusual for that time - even printed after the performance, and has therefore survived until today.
At the medici court she also served as a singing teacher, educating the court members. Her vocal art is described as superb, the great Claudio Monteverdi heard her play three different instruments and sing, “all very well,” in 1610.
"Il primo libro" is a collection of short vocal works for one or two voices with basso continuo, includes nineteen sacred solos, thirteen secular solo songs, and four duets for soprano and bass.
“Maria, dolce Maria” is described in Il Primo Libro as a madrigale. The Italian madrigali of 1600 were composed of poetic lines of eleven syllables and seven syllables, variously arranged for six lines but always ending in a rhyming couplet: abc abc dd. She changes harmony under expressive words as “dolce” and “serena” and introduces gentle turns in the melody itself during the words “soave” and “celeste”. And since Francesca herself was famous for her “ravishing roulades,” she has written a long melisma for the words “canto” and “alma.” The entire song expresses her joy and serenity on contemplating the character of Mary, mother of Jesus.
Mary, sweet Mary,
A name so gentle
That whoever pronounces it learns to speak from the heart,
Sacred name and holy
That inflames my heart with heavenly love.
Mary, never would I know how to sing
Nor my tongue
Draw out from my breast ever
A more felicitous word than to say Mary.
Name that lessens and consoles
Every grief.
Tranquil voice that quiets every breathless agitation,
That makes every heart serene
And every spirit light.
***
Original text:
Maria dolce Maria,
come soave tanto,
ch'e pronunciar t'in paradisi core,
Nome sacrato e Santo,
ch'el cor m'infiammi di celeste amore,
Maria mai sempr'io canto,
ne puo la lingua mia piu felice parola,
trarmi dal sen gia mai che dir,
che dir Maria,
nome ch'ogni dolor tempra'e consola,
voce tranquilla ch'ogni affano acqueta,
ch'ogni cor fa sereno, ogn'alma lieta.
Video: Lighthouse Productions/Odd Geir Sæther/Jon Skandsen
Photo cred: Daniel Lilleeng
beritnorbakken.no/
www.karlnyhlin.com/
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