Tra le fiamme (Il consiglio) (Handel)
Encyclopedia
Tra le fiamme (HWV 170) is a dramatic secular cantata
for soprano and instruments written by Georg Frideric Handel in 1707. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG
liiB,66; and HHA
v/5,55. The title of the cantata translates as "In flames (The council)".
. The payment on 6 July 1707 (recorded in Pamphili's account books) for the copying of a large cantata probably refers to Tra le fiamme.
(who constructed wings made from wax and feathers for himself and his son Icarus
), Pamphili uses the cantata to issue a warning to his audience: that the phoenix
can rise from the flames, however the butterflies will be killed. It is possible that the cardinal was also directing the warning specifically to Handel as there was a rumour at the time about a relationship between Handel (then twenty-two) and the singer Vittoria Tarquini (who was the mistress of Prince Ferdinand de' Medici of Florence).
A typical performance of the work takes about seventeen and a half minutes.
(with the final movement being a partial repeat of the first):
(Movements do not contain repeat markings unless indicated. The number of bars is the raw number in the manuscript—not including repeat markings. The above is taken from volume 52B, starting at page 66, of the Händel-Gesellschaft edition.)
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
for soprano and instruments written by Georg Frideric Handel in 1707. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG
Händel-Gesellschaft
Between 1858 and 1902, the Händel-Gesellschaft, or "German Handel Society," produced a collected 105-volume edition of the works of Georg Frideric Handel. Even though the collection was initiated by the society, many of the volumes were published by Friedrich Chrysander working alone...
liiB,66; and HHA
Hallische Händel-Ausgabe
The Hallische Händel-Ausgabe is a multi-volume collection of the works of George Frideric Handel. It was first published in the 1950s: initially as an adjunct to the HG edition, but by 1958 as a collected edition in its own right...
v/5,55. The title of the cantata translates as "In flames (The council)".
History
The text for the work was written by Cardinal Benedetto PamphiliBenedetto Pamphili
Benedetto Pamphili was an Italian cardinal, patron of the arts, composer and librettist.-Life:...
. The payment on 6 July 1707 (recorded in Pamphili's account books) for the copying of a large cantata probably refers to Tra le fiamme.
Synopsis
Using the analogy of butterflies attracted to a flame, and the story of DaedalusDaedalus
In Greek mythology, Daedalus was a skillful craftsman and artisan.-Family:...
(who constructed wings made from wax and feathers for himself and his son Icarus
Icarus
-Space and astronomy:* Icarus , on the Moon* Icarus , a planetary science journal* 1566 Icarus, an asteroid* IKAROS, a interplanetary unmanned spacecraft...
), Pamphili uses the cantata to issue a warning to his audience: that the phoenix
Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
can rise from the flames, however the butterflies will be killed. It is possible that the cardinal was also directing the warning specifically to Handel as there was a rumour at the time about a relationship between Handel (then twenty-two) and the singer Vittoria Tarquini (who was the mistress of Prince Ferdinand de' Medici of Florence).
Structure
The work is scored for two recorders (flauto), oboes (hautbois), two violins, viola da gamba, a "Violone Grosso" (as specified in Handel's autograph) and, as customary practice in 18th century, a harpsichord. The cantata begins with an aria followed by two recitative-aria pairings, after which a final recitative is performed before an instruction to repeat ("Da Capo") the cantata's opening aria.A typical performance of the work takes about seventeen and a half minutes.
Movements
The work consists of seven movementsMovement (music)
A movement is a self-contained part of a musical composition or musical form. While individual or selected movements from a composition are sometimes performed separately, a performance of the complete work requires all the movements to be performed in succession...
(with the final movement being a partial repeat of the first):
| Movement | Type | Key sig. | Time sig. | Tempo | Bars | Text (Italian) | Text (approx. English) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aria | B minor | 3/8 | 163 | Tra le fiamme tu scherzi per gioco, O mio core, per farti felice, e t'inganna una vaga beltà. Cadon mille farfalle nel foco, e si trova una sola fenice, che risorge se a morte sen va. |
Among the flames you playfully dart, O my heart, to make you happy, and are deceived by a fine beauty. A thousand butterflies fall into the fire, but there is only one phoenix, which rises from death. |
Two sections (116 and 47 bars)—without repeat markings. Includes a "Da Capo", "Fine" instruction. | |
| 2 | Recitative | 4/4 | 17 | Dedalo già le fortunate penne tessa con mano ardita e con tenera cera piuma a piuma aggiungea. Icaro, il fanciulletto sovente confondea l'ingengnoso lavoro; Ah, cosi mai trattato non avesse e cera e piume: Per chi non nacque augello il volare è portento il cader è costume. |
Daedalus once, with crafty hands weaved fortunate wings out of soft wax to which feather to feather is added. Icarus, the young child confused the cunning work; Ah, so he should never have treated wax and feathers in this way: For those not born a bird, flying is a miracle and falling is customary. |
|||
| 3 | Aria | D major | 4/4 | 43 | Pien di nuovo e bel diletto, sciolse l'ali il giovinetto, e con l'aure già scherzando. Ma del volo si gradito troppo ardito l'onda ancore va mormorando. |
Full of new and lovely enjoyment, the young boy melted the wings, while darting in the breezes. But the flight so pleasing but too bold is still talked about by the murmuring waves. |
Two sections (32 and 11 bars)—without repeat markings. Includes a "Da Capo", "Fine" instruction. | |
| 4 | Recitative | 4/4 | 5 | Si, si purtroppo è vero: nel temerario volo molti gl'lcari son, Dedalo un solo. | Yes, yes it is unfortunately true: there are many flying daringly like Icarus, but only one Daedalus. | |||
| 5 | Aria | A minor | 4/4 | 46 | Voli per l'aria chi può volare scorra veloce la terra il mare parta, ritorni né fermi il piè. Voli ancor l'uomo ma coi pensieri che delle piume ben più leggeri e più sublimi il ciel gli diè. |
Fly through the air whoever wishes to do so rushing through land and sea, starting and stopping without returning to the foot. Man may fly, but with thoughts far lighter and sublime than the wings that heaven gave him. |
Includes a "Da Capo", "Fine" instruction. | |
| 6 | Recitative | 4/4 | 7 | L'uomo che nacque per salire al cielo, ferma il pensier nel suolo, e poi dispone il volo con ali che si finge, e in sè non ha. | The man born to ascend to heaven, leaves his thoughts on the ground, and then has flight with pretend wings, that he was not born with. | |||
| 7 | Aria | B minor | 3/8 | (116) | A "Da Capo" repeat of the cantata's opening aria. | |||
(Movements do not contain repeat markings unless indicated. The number of bars is the raw number in the manuscript—not including repeat markings. The above is taken from volume 52B, starting at page 66, of the Händel-Gesellschaft edition.)
See also
- List of cantatas by George Frideric Handel