Era l'anima mia

Era l'anima mia
già presso a l'utim'ore 
e languia come langue alma che more;
quando anima più bella e più gradita
volse lo sguardo in sì pietoso giro,
che mi [ritenne]1 in vita. 
Parean dir que' bei lumi,
"Deh. perché ti consumi? 
Non m'è sì caro il cor, ond'io respiro,
come se' tu, cor mio;
se mori, ohimè, non mori tu, mor'io."

by Giovanni Battista Guarini (1538-1612) , from Rime, 65.

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) , "Era l'anima mia", published 1605 [madrigal for five voices], from Libro V de madrigali, no. 3.
by Benedetto Pallavicino (1551-1601) , "Era l'anima mia", 1600, from Il sesto libro de madrigali a cinque voci, no. 13.

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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Sheet music:

  Twenty Six Italian Songs and Arias (J. G. Paton) [tismusic.com]
  Search sheetmusicplus.com for Era l'anima mia, Art song , Lieder, chansons, or works for solo voice
  Search musicroom.com for Era l'anima mia, vocal/choral music

CDs:

  Search amazon.com for Era l'anima mia, art song, Lieder, or chansons
  Search amazon.ca for Era l'anima mia, art song, Lieder, or chansons

Books:

  The Art of the Song Recital [amazon.com]
  The Book of Lieder: The Original Texts of Over 1000 Songs [amazon.com]
  Search amazon.com for art song, Lieder, or chansons
  Search amazon.ca for art song, lieder, or chansons

Classical Vocal Repertoire