Raffaella Aleotti: Vidi speciosam (c.1590)

Raffaella Aleotti was an Augustinian nun, composer of sacred music, church organist and director of the highly respected music school of the San Vito Convent in Ferrara. Her 1593 collection "Sacrae Cantiones" is the earliest printed publications of sacred music by a female composer. This short motet for five voices (SATTB) was likely written for an all female choir; her well regarded music ensemble boasted female tenors and female basses, along with many instrumentalists. It is a poetic interpretation from the Biblical Songs of Solomon. The motet is, for the most part, is imitative polyphony between the 5 voices, but it concludes with a faster paced 6/8 homophony.
The original MIDI file was compiled and uploaded to CPDL.org by Christopher Shaw. I added the words with some alterations in the text underlay using the MAIKA Spanish language Vocaloid.
Text (and translation):
Vidi speciosam sicut columbam (I saw the fair one like a dove)
ascendentem desuper rivos aquarum: (ascending over the rivers)
Cuius inaestimabilis odor erat nimis (whose incomparable fragrance was abundant)
Et sicut dies verni, (and as if on a spring day)
flores rosarum circumdabant eam (surrounded by roses)
et lilia con vallium. (and lilies of the valley)
Description of the photos:
1. Score of "Vidi speciosam," Raffaella Aleotti, Sacrae Cantiones, Venice 1593
2. Map of Ferrara, the city where Aleotti spent her entire life, 16th Century
3. Saint Catherine with the lilies of the valley, Plautilla Nellis (Florentine nun), c1575
4. Adoration of the Magi, with details of heavenly musicians, Scarsellino, Ferrara, c1580
5. Lazzari family concert with a nun directing, Giacomo Martinelli, early 17th Century

[@zanteidesu]

Thanks uploading ! ラファエラ・アレオッティ：私は美しき人を見たり

[@earlymusicmidi]

Thank you 😊

[@Alberad08]

Well done - for Mater Raffaella's composition and also for your presentation! BTW like that shift in time at the end very much.

[@earlymusicmidi]

Thank you. I think she is quite the maestra!

[@ingridsommer2232]

Thank you

[@earlymusicmidi]

You're welcome

[@wouterdevylder]

es una pena que para la "interpretación" ponéis algo tan artificial. Casi peor que un midi. Esta música es divinamente bonita, me gusta mucho más interpretación de un coro amateur que ésta (con perdón) mierda.