Giuseppe Porsile (1680–1750)
E già tre volte

Cantata for soprano voice, alto recorder (violin) and basso continuo
Edited by Franz Müller-Busch
Realization of the thorough bass by Eckhart Kuper

Girolamo G 11.007, score and 3 parts, € 18,00
ISMN 979-0-50084-032-9

sample page

G 11.006 G 11.008

 

 

 

 

Preface

Giuseppe Porsile was born on 5th May 1680 in Naples. He grew up in a family of musicians and received his musical education at the Naples’ Music Academy. In 1695 however, Porsile was appointed by Charles II in Barcelona to become maestro di capella of the court chapel. Charles II died in 1700 whereupon quarrels and a war broke out as to who should be heir to the throne. When Charles III was crowned in 1703 there came no end to the upheavals, on the contrary, the conflicts deepened. During this period Porsile dwelled at the court in Barcelona. In 1711 Charles III was crowned as Charles VI, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Porsile followed Charles VI to Vienna in the same year and stayed there for the remaining 39 years of his life. He died on 29th May 1750 at the Imperial Habsburg Court.

Together with Johann Joseph Fux (1660–1741) and Antonio Caldara (approx. 1671–1736), Porsile held a prominent post at the court being mainly responsible for the musical activities. He composed round about 20 operas and 13 oratorios as well as a considerable amount of cantatas and instrumental music. He also served as a singing-master to the Empress Elisabetta Cristina and her daughters Maria Josepha and Maria Amalia.

Only very few of his operas were performed outside Vienna. Many copies of his cantatas nevertheless are to be found in Belgium, Germany, England, Italy and Hungary which points to the fact that these works were very popular. His expressive and passionate arias as well as his mastery of counterpoint were highly appreciated. Porsile was therefore the only representative of the Neapolitan School who managed to hold his ground at the Habsburg court.

The cantata E già tre volte is preserved in the library of the Royal Music Academy in Brussels under the shelf mark Litt. F No. 15.155. It is the first cantata belonging to an anthology of 40 cantatas and 19 single arias comprised as manuscript in two volumes. Originally all works of the first volume had no signature. At the beginning of the first and five other cantatas however, the entry “de Porsile” was added by an unknown hand which can also be found in the table of contents. Considering that the copyist wrote his name under the work, one can assume that these works in the second volume were composed by Porsile. Thus we can conclude that E già tre volte also derives from Porsile’s hand.

There is no indication as to which instrument should take over the solo part. Since the cantata is written in flat keys and the pitch range is from g#' to e''', an alto recorder seems a suitable choice. A violin or traverso however would of course also equally fit the part.

This first edition is kept closely to the source. Adjustments have been made to the accidentals and the Italian spelling has been modernized. All further additions by the editor are indicated in the score and corrections are commented in the footnotes.

Translation: Julia Whybrow

Freiburg, October 2001, Franz Müller-Busch

 

Recitativo: E già tre volte sorse dall’onde il sole da che un sol più vago non vidi. Ahimé! Ne speme anca di rivederlo allor che accorse a gl’occhi miei la sospirata imago. Ma nell’angustie estreme che n’ebbe il cor, o fosse il troppo lume, vidi e non vidi l’adorato Nume. Aria: Alla sorte che m’era sí dura mia sciagura non so come pur fece pietà. Ma non sa che non basta no se seco pietosa l’amorosa mia tiranna la sorte non fa. Recitativo: Così fui di mia sorte sí contento e sí fiero che in estasi di gioia rapito in un istante ogni passata noia, ogni affanno, ogni cura partiro all’apparir d’un sí bel sole e la gioia e la speme al governo del cor restaron sole. Aria: Se quei cari amati rai m’involar ne li mirai non la gran gioia, ed il gran piacer. Pur m’è caro quel momento a cui devo il gran contento il mio sol di riveder.

Recitativo: And thrice already riseth the sun from the waves, since I saw a sun yet even more beautiful. Ah! In vain my hope to see again the desired image such as I had set eyes upon. In deep despair, my heart full of torment, or was it merely because the light had shone too bright that I saw and yet saw not the worshipped divinity? Aria: This oh, so bitter lot of mine, yet somehow feels pity for my misfortune. My fate however knoweth not, that compassion alone will not help if my sweet tyrant will not also succumb to it. Recitativo: Yet this lot of mine has rendered me so happy and so proud, that in sheer bliss, all previous depression, fear and inquietude vanished in that one moment when this beautiful sun appeared. And only joy and hope remained to govern the heart. Aria: Even if those beloved rays had enticed me, not utmost joy and not lust did I feel. It is merely the one moment when I can see my sun again that I cherish, and to whom I owe this utter joy. Translation: Julia Whybrow

 

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