European early music ensemble led by the Austrian theorbist and conductor Christina Pluhar, L’Arpeggiata and Barbara Furtuna perform “Maria”, a creation of the Corsican male vocal ensemble Barbara Furtuna and is based on the melody of La Carpinese, a traditional shepherds’ song from Carpino. The text of the song hints at the sorrows of the mother who is consumed by the sufferings of her son.
Maria Lyrics
Maria
Maria,
O tempu un ne ferma piu,
a morte e cusi sia
u to figliolu Ghjesu
Tandu penserai a tanti ghjorni e tanti mesi
per ghjunghjene oghje a tamanti malani
e per ch’ella sia piu dolce la toia offesa
Maria, ava n’un ti scurda
Da li primi passi soi a la prima parolla
eri tu la mamma d’ogni stonda e d’ogni pientu
e piu che la vita un si trova piu bella scola
Maria, l’ora he venuta ava
Maria, Maria.
Maria,
O li sentu avvicina,
avanzanu per la via
un he piu tempu a pensa
Maria,
so ghjunti a piglia Ghjesu,
cusi duru ch’ella sia
speranza un ne ferma piu
Da li primi passi soi a la prima parolla
eri tu la mamma d’ogni stonda e d’ogni pientu
e piu che la vita un si trova piu bella scola
Maria, l’ora he venuta ava
Quandu a raggione he vinta sola da la forza
tandu un arrega che dulore e scimitar
e l’omi so qui portanu dolu e viulenza
Maria, nimu un li parera
Maria, Maria
English translation: Mary
Mary,
Listen, hear the cries
the herald the agony,
for the hour is come.
Mary, time will not stand still
for death, and so it is
for your son Jesus.
Remember all the days and months
that led to this calamitous day;
to soften your sorrow,
Mary, remember them all.
For his first steps and his first words
you his mother were always there, heard every cry,
and there is no better school than life itself.
Mary, the time has come.
Mary, Mary…
Mary, I hear them approaching,
they are coming along the road,
there is no more time for memories.
Mary,
they have come to arrest Jesus;
hard though that is,
there is now no hope.
For his first steps and his first words
you his mother were always there, heard every cry,
and there is no better school than life itself.
Mary, the time has come.
When force has defeated reason
one can expect only pain and folly.
The men have come bringing pain and violence.
Mary, nothing will stop them.
Mary, Mary…
L’Arpeggiata
L’Arpeggiata is a European early music group led by Christina Pluhar, and founded by her in 2000. The group has presented both traditional early music and also several collaged and themed performances and recordings.
Barbara Furtuna is a polyphonic Corsican group of four men. Even though the group still finds its inspiration in the island’s oldest traditions, it is now distinguished by its own creations and offers a piece of music that answers our contemporary longings.
The group has been present on the international scene for the last ten years, in Europe, but also in North America and Australia. It has increased prestigious scenes, solo or with unexpected collaborations. With the baroque ensemble L’Arpeggiata, with the ancient music of Constantinople. The quartet has shown that it could transcend a single register and that traditional music has still the ability to surprise us and to move us.
Sources
- L’Arpeggiata on Wikipedia
- Barbara Furtuna’s official website
