Ippolito Baccusi
Baccusi, a prolific composer of madrigals (7 published books), masses, motets, psalm settings, the equal of madrigalists Marenzio, de Wert, or de Monte in contrapuntal skill, yet he is accorded even less recognition than they in studies of the period. In the late 16th century in N. Italy, however, he was a musician of standing with a career culminating in his appointment to the position of chapelmaster of Verona Cathedral in 1592. He held this post until his death in 1609.
The two madrigals performed here are from his 1601 settings of five poems from Francesco Bozza’s ‘I diporti della villa in ogni stagione’ (Gardano, Venice). The stagione assigned to Baccusi is Autumn. The other composers, each tackling a season: Giovanni Croce – Spring, Lelio Bertani – Summer, Philippe de Monte – Winter; Giovanni Maria Nanino wrote a prologue madrigal . . . 21 in all and all for 5 voices.
Poi’l dolce e bell’ autunno
Yet another musical “Seasons”. This one takes five madrigals to represent each season . . . “Poi’l dolce” is number one for Autumn.
Baccusi: Poi'l dolce e bell' autunno
Text
Poi’l dolce e bell’autunno
Porta giorni men caldi,
E piu quiete e temperate notti,
E da cure interrotti,
Gli spirti guida a belle forme e liete,
La noce il pomo e’l fico
Mostra di frutti carco il crine amico.
Translation:
Then sweet and beautiful Autumn
brings cooler days,
and quieter, temperate nights
that take away our cares,
Our senses guide us to beauty and joy,
The walnut, the apple and the fig tree
show their friendly, fruit-laden branches.
Pendon le gemme e l’auro
Here we have the second of the five madrigals for Autumn from the ‘Diporti della villa’. These late madrigals of Baccusi exemplify the great flexibility of contrapuntal line found in the late polyphonic madrigal. Not quite as extravagant as the madrigals of Gesualdo but certainly the counterpoint exhibits a tonal freedom and athleticism far beyond that found in the madrigals of Verdelot and Arcadelt 70 years earlier.
Baccusi "Pendon le gemme"
Text
Pendon le gemme e l’auro
Delle frondose e verdeggianti viti,
Che vita dano al core
Col premuto liquore
di nettari celesti almi e graditi:
Ogni mano desia
contr’a tal pianta esser crudel e ria.
Translation:
The golden gems hang down
from the leafy vines in abundance,
the heart is filled with life
from the pressed-out liquor—
divine nectar, nourishing and sweet:
Every hand wants to ravage
such plants with cruel delight.