Che fiero costume
Giovanni Legrenzi Wrote this rhythmically challenging piece. This piece was typically played by an organ in Legrenzi's church. This piece is considered a cantata, and was sang on private concerts along with several other cantatas. This writer Giovanni Legrenzi lived in the 17th century. This piece is quite challenging to singers that have trouble counting. The accompaniment does not help that much. The piano plays a beat that is counter intuitive to the singers rhythm. Furthermore, the composer calls for accents on the weak beats, to navigate the parts of the text that want to be heard.
Italian Text.
Che fiero costume
D’aligero nume,
Che a forza di pene si faccia adorar!
E pur nell’ ardore
Il dio traditore
Un vago sembiante mi fe’ idolatrar.
Che crudo destino
Che un cieco bambino
Con bocca di latte si faccia stimar!
Ma questo tiranno
Con barbaro inganno,
Entrando per gli occhi, mi fe’ sospirar!
English Translation.
What fierce power
[Has] this winged god,
Who by force of punishments, should make himself adored!
And nevertheless in [my] ardor
The traitorous god
Made me idolize a lovely face.
What a cruel destiny,
That a blind child [still]
With a mouth of [mother’s] milk, should make himself esteemed!
But this tyrant
With barbarous deception,
Entering through [my] eyes, made me sigh!