May 7, 2008...11:31 am
Opera Arias put me in the mood to write
Kathleen Battle singing “O Mio Babbino Caro.” (Gianni Schicchi)
Lyrics:
O mio babbino caro,
Mi piace, e bello bello,
Vo andare in Porta Rossa
A comperar l anello!
Si,si ci voglio andare
e se l amassi indarno
andrei sui Ponte Vecchio
ma per buttaarmi in Arno!
Mi struggo e mi tormento!
O Dio, vorrei morir!
Babbo, pieta, pieta!
Babbo, pieta, pieta!Translation
Oh my dear daddy
I love him, he is so handsome
I want to go to Porta Rossa
to buy the ring!
Yes, yes, I mean it
And if my love were in vain
I would go to Ponte Vecchio
and throw myself in the Arno!
I fret and suffer torments!
Oh God, I would rather die!
Daddy, have pity, have pity!
Daddy, have pity, have pity!Music: Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
Lyrics: Giovacchino ForzanoTo read more about this opera and the explanation of what the lyrics are about (she’s pleading with her father to let her marry her sweetheart), go to Sarah Brightman’s page.
Nita and yaake tagged me for this meme about music, and how it inspires us to write. Here is the original meme from forgetting myself:
Think of THE song that most inspires you to write, whether it gives you an idea for a story, script or just puts you into a better frame of mind AND/OR peek into the lyrics and find a verse that sums up the theme of whatever project it is you’re working on. If possible, post a video of the song to convey to readers the full context of the song and the mood it puts you into. Finally, send the assignment to five other writers to do as well.
As usual, I didn’t do exactly as the instructions suggested. I didn’t find the song. But I do love Italian opera, and Kathleen Battle’s voice in particular. Among the other contenders for this post were The Clash, and a Spanish singer named Bebe. Finally, I went with a sound that makes the hair on my arms stand on end and swells my heart.
I’m supposed to tag five writers. This is tough to do, because it seems like so one wants to do these memes anymore. If your name appears here and you don’t want to write about this topic, no worries! And if your name isn’t here and you’d like to write about music, please join in!
15 Comments
May 7, 2008 at 1:48 pm
This is one of my favourite pieces of music. I love opera, it sends my soul out of my body flying……thank you. You cannot listen to this and not be moved, it’s impossible.
May 7, 2008 at 1:48 pm
ps Kathleen Battle’s voice is exquisite.
May 7, 2008 at 1:50 pm
ps I want to do the meme, please (I usually don’t but this one I do). I’ll do it later.
May 7, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I just listened to her sing again, and every hair follicle on my body danced! I love how you describe your reaction to opera, jo. Doesn’t surprise me. Your writing is music in words, so it makes sense that you would be moved by opera. It’s true, you’d have to be made of stone not to feel this music.
Please carry on the meme! I look forward to hearing what you choose.
May 7, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I jumped the gun and did this yesterday, but not opera I’m afraid,
May 7, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Christine - I love O mio babbino caro, and am so glad you didn’t play a Sarah Brightman version of it. I love the Joan Sutherland version, not as delicately wrought as K. Battle’s. Yay for opera. I’m trying to figure out how to load a youtube video pf one of Kodaly’s folk songs either Evensong, which is sublime, or A Csitari hegyek alatt, which also makes my skin tingle its so sublime.
Thanks for posting this treat! G
May 7, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Silence. I find silence most inspiring, especially when driving. I never turn on the radio or music in the car, and I get most of my writing ideas there. And when I get a chance at the ocean.
May 7, 2008 at 7:50 pm
i cannot listen to music and write… i do not know why,, but i cannot focus enough to become inspired if there is music on… and opera… not being my cup of tea to begin with… would aggravate the hell out of me..
May 7, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Oh my god! What a voice!!! This is perhaps only the third time in my life I’m listening to an opera singer! and that voice!! oh wow…! haunting! u describe it perfectly - hair stands on their ends!
May 7, 2008 at 10:18 pm
g, you are an opera buff! I’m not nearly as knowledgeable about all the different artists, only the ones I really like, such as Kathleen Battle! I won’t bother with Brighton, but I’ll see if I can find the Sutherland version.
For a video you sign up for an accout with youtube, and then copy and paste the code on the right side of the screen. Or you can register your blog with them in the accounts section, and then insert the video into a new post. Hope that helps.
May 7, 2008 at 10:21 pm
poetmouse, I don’t write to music either, but sometimes when I listen, i get that urge to create, or maybe I’m filled up with joy, which then leads to creation. Some such nonesense.
paisley, what kind of music do you like?
nikkil, I’m glad you like Kathleen Battle. She’s got the voice of a heavenly choir, doesn’t she?
May 7, 2008 at 11:38 pm
This is one of my favorite arias. I have never heard Kathleen Battle sing it, though.
Opera is what got me through college and when i am stressed at work, you can often hear it coming from my office.
But, if I have to pick a favorite, it is The Queen of the Night from the Magic Flute (Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen–Hell’s vengeance boils in my heart–Wikipedia is AWESOME!)
That just gets my blood pumping!
May 8, 2008 at 4:26 am
I have never really listened to Opera before. I have heard bits and pieces in movies, that’s all. Here I listened carefully. I loved the music and her voice is indeed very sweet. You can say it’s my introduction to Opera!
Thanks for doing the tag Christine.
May 12, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I’m just getting to my response now, but I wanted to compliment you not only on your choice but also on one of your runners-up. The Clash are one of my absolute fans, and I confess it was proud papa moment when I came around the corner at school the other day and caught my son in a best band argument supporting the Clash over the Beatles.
May 12, 2008 at 8:18 pm
[...] week ago Christine Swint at Mariacristina tagged me— Think of THE song that most inspires you to write, whether it gives you an idea for a [...]
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