A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Musica Transalpina

MUSICA TRANSALPINA. The name of the first printed collection of Italian madrigals with English words. It was published in London in 1588 (the dedicatory epistle is dated Oct. 1) soon after Byrd had issued his 'Psalmes, Sonets, and Songs,' the first printed collection of English madrigals. The title is 'Musica Transalpina. Madrigales translated of foure, five and sixe parts, chosen out of diuers excellent Authors, with the first and second part of La Verginella, made by Maister Byrd vpon two Stanz's of Ariosto, and brought to speak English with the rest. Published by N. Yonge, in fauour of such as take pleasure in Musick of voices. Imprinted at London by Thomas East, the assignè of William Byrd. 1588. Cum Priuelegio Regiæ Maiestatis.' Nicholas Yonge, the compiler, tells us that during his residence in London he had annually received music books from Italy and elsewhere, and that his house was much resorted to by gentlemen and merchants, English and foreign, attracted by the music which was daily performed there; that five years previously a gentleman had translated many Italian madrigals, and that he, having obtained copies, had often been importuned to publish them, and had at length done so. The number of madrigals in the collection is 57, viz. 16 by Ferabosco, 10 by Marenzio, 4 each by Palestrina and Filippo di Monte, 3 by Conversi, 2 each by Byrd, Fagnient, Donato, Orlando di Lasso, Ferretti and Felis, and one each by di Macque, Pordenoni, de Vert, Verdonck, Palestina, Rinaldo del Mel, Bertani and Pinello. In the table of contents the original initial Italian words are given, side by side with the English. In 1597 Yonge published a second book under the same name, containing 24 madrigals, viz. 6 by Ferabosco, 3 each by Marenzio, Croce and Quintiani, 2 each by Eremita and Palavicino, and one each by Vecchi, Nanino, Venturi, Feliciani, and Bicci. The madrigals in both books are very judiciously chosen, and many are still in constant use. The English words are almost literal translations of the original Italian, and are generally well fitted to the notes, but as verses are singularly crude, and in some instances—notably the well-known 'Cynthia, thy song and chanting' of Giovanni Croce—almost unmeaning.

[ W. H. H. ]