O pulcherrima mulierum

Song of Solomon (excerpts, alt.) Marian prayer Jacques Arcadelt (?1507-1568) ed. Daniel A. Mahraun

BC BC BC BC ?C

[ h = 48-52] bbb C w &

O fairest among women,

A/TI

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pul - cher

ri - ma

mu - li - e

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rum,

TII

pul - cher

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ri - ma

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For reh. only

b & bb C w ? b C bb

2010 Daniel A. Mahraun. May be freely copied for nonprot use.

b &bb

Arcadelt - O pulcherrima - ed. Mahraun - 2

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pul - cher

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Ma

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17

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, ,

rum,

vul - ne

you have ravished my heart,

Arcadelt - O pulcherrima - ed. Mahraun - 3

ra - sti cor

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rum,

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BI

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ne -

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sti cor me

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my sister, my love.

um,

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me -

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29

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mi - ca

Arcadelt - O pulcherrima - ed. Mahraun - 4

me

a,

a - mi - ca me

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De

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Come down into my garden.

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um,

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no

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41

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me in hor -

Arcadelt - O pulcherrima - ed. Mahraun - 5

.
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me

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me

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n-

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um.

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Come, my beloved.

w
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Ve

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ni,

ni,

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me

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um.

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ri

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52

b &bb w b &bb
a.

You are all fair, my love,

Arcadelt - O pulcherrima - ed. Mahraun - 6

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and there is not a spot in you.

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63

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ni,

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Arcadelt - O pulcherrima - ed. Mahraun - 7

Come and be crowned.

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71

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Arcadelt - O pulcherrima - ed. Mahraun - 8

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Arcadelt - O pulcherrima - ed. Mahraun - 9

Source: Arcadelt, Jacob. Opera omnia, ed. Albert Seay, Vol. 10, 12-15. [Rome]: American Institute of Musicology, 1970. The Composer: Although Jacques Arcadelt is best known today for his secular works, it was his sacred output--all from early in his career--that was most widely disseminated during and immediately following his lifetime. This motet appears in a manuscript compiled in Florence 1530-31. Editorial Method: The original note values have been halved in this edition, and Mensurstrich has been used to visually maintain the sense of and length of melodic lines. Accidentals (both above the staves and cautionary), breath and no-breath indications, and tempo are editorial. Notes for Performance: The piece has been transposed to better t modern, mixed ensembles. The score order of this edition's TII and BI parts is reversed compared to the Opera omnia, based on range and tessitura considerations. The editor recommends adding a few tenor voices to the alto line in mm. 9-17, if not throughout. Since Arcadelt's Flemish descent is doubted by scholars, and since much of his early life was spent working in various cities in Italy, the performer should feel free to choose between a Franco-Flemish pronunciation and the Italiante, liturgical pronunciation of the Latin. The translation of the text has been placed above the score to aid in interpretation. Capitalization and punctuation in this edition have been based on that in the Vulgate. The text, which is mostly compiled and paraphrased from the Song of Solomon, is clearly dedicated to the B.V.M, possibly nding its place in a Vespers service. The table below shows Arcadelt text, each line's context in scripture (using the chapter/verse indications from common English translations), and the translation of the scriptural context.
Arcadelt's Text O pulcherrima mulierum, vulnerasti cor meum, Descende in hortum meum. Veni, dilecta mea. Tota pulchra es, amica mea, et macula non est in te. Veni et coronaberis. Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis. Context in Song of Solomon 6:1 Quo abiit dilectus tuss, o pulcherrima mulierum?... Translation of Biblical Context Where is your beloved gone, o you fairest among women?... You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse... I went down into the garden of nuts... Let my beloved come into his garden... You are all fair, my love; there is no spot in you. Come from Lebanon, my spouse, come from Lebanon, come: you shall be crowned... Holy Mary, pray for us.

4:9 Vulnerasti cor meum, soror mea, sponsa... 6:11 Descendi in hortum nucum... 4:16 Veniat dilectus meus in hortum suum... 4:7 4:8 Tota pulchra es, amica mea, et macula non est in te. Veni de Libano, sponsa mea: veni de Libano, veni, coronaberis... n/a