In qual parte del ciel

General information

Author: Francesco Petrarca in Il Canzoniere. 159

The two settings by de Monte were provided with an English text in Musica Transalpina.

Notes on selected settings

• Philippe de Monte SATB (second half Per divina bellezza only)

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• Marco da Gagliano — In qual parte del ciel  Italian SSATB
• Gioseffo Guami — In qual parte del ciel  Italian SATTB
• Orlando di Lasso — In qual parte del ciel  Italian SAATB
• Philippe de Monte — In qual parte del ciel  2 SAATB
• Philippe de Monte — Per divina bellezza  Italian SATB
• Adrian Willaert — In qual parte del ciel, in quale idea  Italian SAATBB

Text and translations

Italian text In qual parte del ciel, in quale idea era l’esempio, onde Natura tolse quel bel viso leggiadro, in ch’ella volse mostrar qua giù quanto lassù potea? Qual ninfa in fonti, in selve mai qual dea, chiome d’oro sì fino a l’aura sciolse? quando un cor tante in sé vertuti accolse? benché la somma è di mia morte rea. Per divina bellezza indarno mira chi gli occhi de costei già mai non vide come soavemente ella gli gira; non sa come Amor sana, e come ancide, chi non sa come dolce ella sospira, e come dolce parla, e dolce ride.

English translation From what part of the heaven, from what example brought was the mould whence Nature hath derived that sweet face full of beauty in which she strived to prove in earth her power above was ample? Was never nymph nor silvane queen adored that so dainty fine locks in air displayed nor heart divine with sao great virtue stored, yet by her looks my life is all betrayed. In vain he seeketh for beauty that excelleth that hath not seen her eyes where love sejourneth, how sweetly here and there the same she turneth; He knows not how love heals and how he quelleth that knows not how she sighs and sweet beguileth and how sweetly speaks and sweetly smileth. (from Musica Transalpina)