Jacopo da Bologna: Fenice fu' e vissi (c.1350)

Details

Description

This medieval "madrigale" is typical of the Italian Trecento with its free style alto and tenor voices chasing after one other - sometimes in imitation and sometimes in hocket form. It was written by the Italian Ars Nova composer Jacopo da Bologna perhaps in the period immediately after the Black Death (1347-1351) during which millions around the world perished.

The phoenix and dove are creatures frequently depicted in Medieval bestiaries. They symbolized resurrection (or hope) and faithfulness, respectively. Perhaps these were vital sentiments among the survivors of the worst natural calamity to visit the human race. It was for their generation a miracle that they lived and loved once more after such a terrible "winter."

Text:

Fenice fu' e vissi pura e morbida,
Et or son transmutata in una tortora
Che vollo con Amor per le bell' ortora
Tal vissi e tal me vivo e posso scrivere
ch'a donna non e piu che onesta vivere
Arbero secco n'acqua torbida
non me diletta. may per questo dubito
va nel astate l'inverno ven e subito

Translation:

I was a phoenix and I lived pure and soft,
and now I am transformed into a turtle dove
that flies through the beautiful orchard
So I lived and I can write
that to a woman there is nothing more than to live honestly
Dry trees and turbid water
do not delight me, but for this doubt
go in the summer, the winter comes suddenly

Description of the photos:

1. "Fenice fu' e vissi," Jacopo da Bologna, Squarcialupi Ms., c.1400
2. Phoenix, Livre des proprietés des choses, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, fr. 136, c1450
3. Turtledoves, Livre des proprietés des choses, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, fr. 136, c1450
4. Poesies Jugement du roi de Boheme, Guillaume de Machaut, c1355
5. Angel playing harp, Cathédrale Saint Julien du Mans Fresque, 14th century
6. Stylized portrait of Jacopo da Bologna, Squarcialupi Ms., c.1400