Bascia e ribascia e sugge (Luca Marenzio)

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• (Posted 2025-01-24)  CPDL #83533: 

• Original high clefs:       Score information: Letter, 2 pages, 66 kB   

• Transposed down a 4th:     Score information: Letter, 2 pages, 66 kB   

Editor: Allen Garvin (submitted 2025-01-24).   Copyright: CC BY NC

Edition notes: Source files may be found on my github (linked from my CPDL profile. For this edition I used the C,T,B and 5 partbooks from the 1596 Phalese print, available at Wolfenbüttel, and the alto partbook of the 1610 at Wroclaw University).

General Information

Title: Bascia e ribascia e sugge
Composer: Luca Marenzio
Lyricist: Maffio Venier^{create page}
Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SSATB
Genre: Secular, Madrigal

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1593 in Florindo e Armilla, canzon pastorale (Venice: Amadino press). Only canto and quinto partbooks survive
    2nd published: 1596 in Paradiso musicale (Antwerp: Phalèse), no. 12
    3rd published: 1610 in Madrigali spirituali e temporali (Nuremberg), no. 22
Description: 

Original text and translations

Italian text Bascia e ribascia e sugge; Mira, rimira e gode; Del gran piacer si strugge; e li par sogno e frode. Ogni spirto, ogni vena ha di dolcezza incomprensibil piena.

English translation He kisses and kisses again and sips; He gazes and gazes again and savors; From great pleasure he melts; and it seems to him a dream, a deceit. Every breath, every vein is incomprehensibly full of sweetness. Translation by Allen Garvin

Note: The full context of the poem makes it clear this section is about the shepherd Florido in a passionate encounter with his beloved nymph Armilla. I chose a genteel translation, but suggere also carries the meaning to suck, while godere is attested in the 15c and 16c to also mean to know a woman carnally.