Music and Texts of GARY BACHLUND
Vocal Music | Piano | Organ | Chamber Music | Orchestral | Articles and Commentary | Poems and Stories | Miscellany | FAQs
La gatta - (2025)
Giovanni Pascoli
for medium voice and piano
Era una gatta, assai trita, e non era
d’alcuno, e, vecchia, aveva un suo gattino.
Ora, una notte, (su per il camino
s’ingolfava e rombava la bufera)
trassemi all’uscio il suon d’una preghiera,
e lei vidi e il suo figlio a lei vicino.
Mi spinse ella, in un dolce atto, il meschino
tra’ piedi; e sparve nella notte nera.
Che notte nera, piena di dolore!
Pianti e singulti e risa pazze e tetri
urli portava dai deserti il vento.
E la pioggia cadea, vasto fragore,
sferzando i muri e scoppiettando ai vetri.
Facea le fusa il piccolo, contento.4 pages, circa 4' 00"
Giovanni Pascoli (1855-1912)
There was a cat, quite feeble, belonging to no one,
and, though old, had a kitten of her own.
Now, one night, (a storm was roaring
and roaring up the chimney),
the sound of a prayer drew me to the door,
and I saw her and her son beside her.
She gently pushed the wretched boy
before my feet; and disappeared into the black night.
What a black night, full of pain!
Cries and sobs, and mad and gloomy laughter
the wind brought, like screams out of the deserts.
And the rain fell, a vast roar,
lashing the walls and crackling at the windows.
The little one purred, happy.
1885
The score is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this piano-vocal score.
