Nigra sum sed formosa (Michael Praetorius)

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• CPDL #26669: 

Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2012-07-03).   Score information: A4, 7 pages, 97 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.

• CPDL #18799: 

Editor: Renato Calcaterra (submitted 2009-01-19).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 180 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Nigra sum sed formosa
Composer: Michael Praetorius

Number of voices: 6vv   Voicing: SSATTB

Genre: Sacred, Motet

Language: Latin
Instruments: a cappella
Published: 1607

Description: Musarum Sioniarum, 1607, N. 15

External websites:

Original text and translations

Latin text

Nigra sum, sed formosa, o filiae Hierusalem;
nolite me considerare quod sum sub nigra
quia me coloravit sol: indica mihi, quem diligit anima mea,
ubi pascas ubi cubes in meridie,
ne vagari incipiam post greges sodalium tuorum.

(Song of Songs, Chapter 1, v.4-6)

English translation

Dark am I, yet lovely,
Daughters of Jerusalem,
Do not stare at me because I am dark,
for the sun has altered my colour.
Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock
and where you rest at midday,
lest I begin to wander after the flocks of your companions.