Where Beauty Moves And Wit Delights
Ancient Songs of Love and Adventure
The New World Renaissance Band
1. Fuggi, Fuggi, Fuggi (4:04)
2. In A Garden So Green (5:08)
3. Helas Madame (3:55)
4. Daphne (4:42)
5. Cantiga No. 48 (1:16)
6. A La Una Yo Naci (4:54)
7. Staines Morris Dance (1:55)
8. Douce Dame Jolie (3:33)
9. A Lieta Vita (2:32)
10. Wee Be Souldiers Three (4:15)
11. Maid In Bedlam (5:21)
12. Goddesses (2:28)
13. Since First I Saw Your Face (3:25)
Notes and Translations
The New World Renaissance Band is the child of an unusual counter
cultural phenomenon in North America known as the "Renaissance
Festival". (There are over one hundred such festivals across the
continent.) As a solo performer (voice and vihuela), I had long been a
participant in the Michigan Renaissance Festival and had pursued the
idea of an early music ensemble performing ancient repertoire in a
cross-over or romanticized style. Through a friend, I heard a
recording from Houston, Texas by an instrumental group calling
themselves "Cantiga". It was remarkable. They were attempting to do
the same thing with early music as I was, yet instrumentally. I made
arrangements to visit the Texas Renaissance Festival to meet Martha Gay
(harp), Malcolm Smith (fiddle), Bob Bielfeld (recorders), and Max Dyer
(cello). So it was that The New World Renaissance Band came to be.
-- Owain Phyfe
Track: 1
Title: Fuggi Fuggi Fuggi
by Giuseppino (Italian circa 1600)
Fuggi fuggi fuggi da questo cielo
asp're duro spietato e gielo
tu ch'il tutto i prigioni e leghi
ne per pianto ti frangi o pieghi
fier tiranno giel dell'anno
fuggi fuggi fuggi la dove il verno
su le brine ha seggio eterno
Vieni vieni candida
vien vermiglia
tu del mondo sei maraviglia
tu nemica d'amare noie
da ad anima delle gioie
messaggiera per primeravera
tu sei dell'anno la giovinezza
tu del mondo sei la vaghezza.
English translation:
Flee, flee, flee from this sky,
harsh and unyielding, relentless and freezing;
you, who shackle all in prison
neither bending nor breaking in tears.
You, the year's cruel, frozen tyrant,
flee, flee, flee to wherever the eternal winter
places its throne over the frost.
Come [flowers and blossoms],
come white, come vermilion.
You are a marvel for the world
and the nemesis of all things dreary.
Give joy to the soul
through your message of spring.
You are the youth of the year
and the beauty of the world.
Track: 2
Title: In A Garden So Green
Anonymous, pub. Forbes, Cantus, Songs and Fancies, 1662 Scotland
In a garden so green in May morening
heard I my lady pleen of paramours. complain
Said she, my love so sweet, come you not yet nor yet?
Heght you not me to meet amongst the flowrs? pledge
Elore, elore, I love my lusty love, elore lo.
The skies upspringis, the dew down dingis,
the sweet larks singis their hours of prime.
Phoebus upsprentius, joy to rest wentis
lost mine intent is and gone's the time,
Elore, elore, I love my lusty love, elore lo.
Danger my dead is, false fortune my feid is, enemy
langour my leed is, but hope I despair. dreariness, song
Disdaine my desyris, so strangeness my feir is,
deceit out of weir is, adew I fare.
Elore, elore, I love my lusty love, elore lo.
Then to my lady swyth did I my presence kyth, swiftly, make
saying, my bird be blyth, am I not yours?
So in my arms two did I the lusty jo
and kisst her tymis mo then night hes hours.
Elore, elore, I love my lusty love, elore lo.
Live in hope, lady faire and repell all dispaire.
Trust not that your true love shall you betrase. betray
When deceit and languor banished is from your bowre. refuge
I'll be your paramour and shall you please
Elore, elore, I love my lusty love, elore lo.
Track: 3
Title: Helas Madame
attributed to Henry VIII
Helas madame, celle que j'ayme tant:
souffrez que soye vostre humble servant;
vostre humble servant je seray a toujours
et tant que je viv'ray ault' n'aymeray que vous.
Hellas, beau sire, vous estez bel et bon,
sage et courtoys et de noble maison.
Et aussi bon que l'on scairoit finer,
mais cil que j'ayme, ne scairoye oublier.
Hellas, ma dama, pences en vostre cas:
entre nous deulx ne fault point d'avocatz:
certes non pas, et vous le scavez bien.
Allex vous en, car vous ne faictez rien.
Mon cueur souspire et se plaint tendrement,
quant il ne peult trouver allegement.
Ne scay comment on me veult dechasser;
s'il est ainsi, j'ayray ailleurs chasser.
Hellas, ma dama, et n'en seray-je point?
Certes beau sire, je ne le vous dis point.
Servez a point: il vous sera mery.
Hellas ma dame, de bon cueur vous mercy.
English translation:
Alas, my lady, whom I love so,
let me be your humble servant;
your humble servant I shall always be,
and for as long as I live, I will love only you.
Alas, gentle sir, you are fine and fair;
wise, well-mannered, and from a noble home,
and (you are) so favored that one could not find better,
but I cannot forget the one I love.
(He) Alas, my lady, consider your plight:
between the two of us, you need no other to speak.
(She) Certainly not, as you well know.
So go away, for you will accomplish nothing.
(He) My Heart sighs and moans tenderly,
for it finds no relief.
I know not why I am shunned.
If this be so, I must search elsewhere.
[And so] Alas, my lady, am I without all hope?
Indeed, good sir, I did not mean that.
Serve well and you will be rewarded.
Alas, my lady, with all my heart I thank you.
Track: 4
Title: Daphne
Anonymous, 16th century England
The song text is the old mythological story of Daphne turned into a
laurel.
When Daphne from fair Phoebus did fly,
the West wind most sweetly did blow in her face.
Her silken scarf scarce sheltered her eyes.
The god cried, O pity! and held her in chase.
Stay, nymph, stay, nymph, cried Apollo,
tarry, and turn thee, sweet nymph, stay,
lion or tiger, doth thee follow
turn thy fair eyes and look this way.
O turn, O pretty sweet
and let our red lips meet:
Pity, O Daphne, pity, pity,
pity, O Daphne, pity me.
She gave no ear unto his cry,
but still did neglect him the more he did moan;
though he did entreat, she still did deny,
and earnestly prayed him to leave her alone.
Never, never, cried Apollo,
unless to love thou wilt consent,
and still, with my voice so hollow,
I'll cry to thee while life be spent.
But prove if thou turn to me,
for certes, thy felicity.
Pity, O Daphne, pity, pity,
pity, O Daphne, pity me.
Track: 5
Title: Cantiga No. 48
from the court of Alfonzo X (El Sabio)
Track: 6
Title: A La Una Yo Naci
Anonymous, Sephardic, late 15th century
A la una yo naci,
A las dos m'engrandesi
A las tres tomi amante,
A las quatro me casi,
Ansi ver tu ermozura.
Dime niña donde vienes?
Que te quiero conocer.
Si tu no tienes amante,
yo dejara de aprender.
Ansi ver tu ermozura.
English translation:
I was born at 1 o'clock,
by 2 o'clock I had grown up,
at 3 I took a lover,
{and} at 4 I was wed.
How I yearn to see your beauty.
Tell me, girl, where are you from?
For I long to get to know you.
If you do not have a lover,
I should let myself learn how.
How I long to see your beauty.
Alternate English translation:
At one I was born
At two I grew up
At three I took a lover
At four I married
I married a lover.
Tell me little girl where do you come from
That I want to get acquainted
If you have no lover
I will defend you
Soul, life, and heart
Going off to war
I threw kisses into the air
One is for my mother
The other is for you
Track: 7
Title: Staines Morris Dance
Anonymous
Track: 8
Title: Douce Dame Jolie
by Guillaume de Machaut, 14th century French
Douce dame jolie,
pour dieu ne penses mie
que nulle ait signourie
seur moy, fors vous seulement.
Qu'ades sans tricherie chierie
vous ay, et humblement
tous les jours de ma vie servie
sans villein pensement.
Helas! Et je mendie
d'esperance et d'aie;
dont ma joie est fenie,
se pite ne vous en prent.
Douce dame jolie ...
Mais vo douce maistrie maistrie
mon cuer si durement
qu'elle le contralie et lie
en amours, tellement
Qu'il n'a de riens envie
fors d'estre en vo baillie;
et se ne li ottrie
vos cuers nul aligement.
Douce dame jolie ...
English translation:
Sweet, lovely lady
for god's sake do not think
that I am devoted to any woman
but you alone.
For always, without falsehood
I have cherished you, and humbly
served you all the days of my life
without deception.
Alas, I am left begging
for hope and relief;
for my joy is at its end
without your compassion.
Your sweet spell
rules my heart so harshly,
tormenting and binding it
in unbearable love.
[My heart] desires nothing
but to be in your power.
And still, your own heart
renders it no relief.
Track: 9
Title: A Lieta Vita
by Giovanni Gastoldi (1595)
A lieta vita
amor c'in vita
Fa la la la la la fa la la la.
Chi gior brama
se di cor ama
donerá il core
a un tal signore.
Fa la la la la la fa la la la.
Hor lieta homai
scacciando i guai
Fa la la la la la fa la la la.
Quanto ci resta
viviamo in festa
e diam l'honore
a un tal signore.
Fa la la la la la fa la la la.
English translation:
To life, happy and sweet,
Love beckons us.
One who delights in desire,
if he loves completely,
will give his heart
to such a master.
The hour of happiness is here,
banishing sorrow.
The rest of our lives
we shall spend in celebration
and give honor
to such a master.
Track: 10
Title: Wee Be Souldiers Three
by Thomas Ravenscroft, 16th century England
Wee be souldiers three,
pardona moy je vous en pree,
lately come forth from the low country
with neuer a penny of mony.
Here good fellow I drinke to thee,
pardona moy je vous en pree:
to all good fellowes where euer they be,
with neuer a penny of mony.
Here good fellow I'll sing you a song,
sing for the brave and sing for the strong
to all those living and those who have gone
with neuer a penny of mony.
And he that will not pledge me this,
pardona moy je vous en pree:
payes for the shot what euer it is,
with neuer a penny of mony.
Track: 11
Title: Maid In Bedlam
In the 12th century, a hospital was founded in London called "Our Lady
St. Mary of Bethlehem." The name was eventually shortened to
"Bedlam." In the 16th century, the hospital was converted into an
asylum for the insane. This ancient song from Cornwall is the story
of one young lady who was imprisoned there.
Abroad as I was walking
one evening in the spring
I heard a maid in Bedlam
so sweetly for to sing.
Her chains she rattled in her hand
and thus replied she,
I love my love because I know
my love loves me.
O cruel were his parents
who sent my love to sea
and cruel was the galleon
that bore my love from me.
Yet I love his parents since they're his,
although they've ruined me.
I love my love because I know
my love loves me.
With straw I weave a garland
I'll weave it very fine
with roses, daisies, lilies
I'll mix the eglandtine
and I'll present it to my love
when he returns from sea for
I love my love because I know
my love loves me.
Just as she there sat weeping,
her love he came on land.
Then hearing she was in Bedlam,
he ran straight out of hand.
He flew into her snow-white arms
and thus replied he,
I love my love because I know
my love loves me.
So now these two are married
and happy may they be
like turtle doves together
in love and unity.
All pretty maids with patience wait
that have got loves at sea.
I love my love because I know
my love loves me.
Track: 12
Title: Goddesses
by John Playford
Track: 13
Title: Since First I Saw Your Face
by Thomas Ford
From: Musicke of Sundrie Kindes
(London, 1607)
Since first I saw your face
I resolv'ed to honour and renown ye.
If now I be disdained
I wish my heart had never known ye.
What, I that lov'd and you that lik'd,
shall we begin to wrangle?
No, no, no, my heart is fast
and cannot disentangle.
If I admire or praise you too much,
that fault you may forgive me.
Or if my hands had stray'd but a touch,
then justly might you leave me.
I asked your leave, you bad me love,
Is't now a time to chide me?
No, no, no, I love you still,
what fortune ere betide me.
The sun whose beams most glorious are,
rejecteth no beholder.
And your sweat beauty, past compare,
made my poor eyes the bolder.
Where beauty moves, and wit delights,
and signs of kindness, bind me,
there, o there where'er I go,
I leave my heart behind me.