Pergolesi was born in Jesi, Italy, where he studied music under Francesco Santini there before going to Naples in 1725 where he studied under Gaetano Greco among others. He spent most of his life working in Neapolitan courts.
Pergolesi was one of the most important early composers of opera buffa (comic opera). His opera seria Il prigioner superbo contained the two act buffa intermezzo, La Serva Padrona (The Landlady Servant, 1733), which became a very popular work in its own right. When it was given in Paris in 1752, it prompted the so-called querelle des bouffons (quarrel of the comedians) between supporters of serious French opera by the likes of Jean-Baptiste Lully and Jean-Philippe Rameau and supporters of new Italian comic opera. Pergolesi was held up as a model of the Italian style during this quarrel, which divided Paris's musical community for two years.
Among Pergolesi's other operatic works are his first opera La conversione e morte di San Guglielmo (1731), Lo frate 'nnammorato (The friar in love, 1732), L'Olimpiade (1735) and Il Flaminio (1735). All his operas were premiered in Naples apart from L'Olimpiade which was first given in Rome.
Pergolesi also wrote sacred music, including a Mass in F. It is his Stabat Mater (1736), however, for male soprano, male alto and orchestra, which is his best known sacred work. It was commissioned as a replacement for the one by Alessandro Scarlatti which had been performed each Good Friday in Naples. The work remained popular, becoming the most frequently printed work of the 18th century, and being arranged by a number of other composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, who used it as the basis for his psalm Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden, BWV 1083.
Pergolesi wrote a number of secular instrumental works, including a violin sonata and a violin concerto. A considerable number of instrumental and sacred works once attributed to Pergolesi have since been shown to be falsely attributed. Much of Igor Stravinsky's ballet, Pulcinella, which ostensibly reworks pieces by Pergolesi, is actually based on spurious works. The Concerti Armonici are now known to be composed by Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer.
Salve Regina
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
The lyrics of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's "Salve Regina" are a prayer to the Virgin Mary, seeking her intercession and mercy. The song begins with the words "Salve Regina," which can be translated as "Hail, Queen" or "Hail, Holy Queen." Mary is addressed as the mother of mercy, emphasizing her role as a compassionate and loving figure. She is described as our life, sweetness, and hope, highlighting her importance and influence in the lives of believers.
In the next lines, the prayer acknowledges the human condition and the need for salvation. The phrase "Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae" means "To you we cry, banished children of Eve." It recognizes the fallen nature of humanity, seeking refuge and redemption through Mary's intercession. The following line, "Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle," conveys a sense of sorrow and lamentation. It expresses the longing and tears shed by those seeking solace and guidance in a world filled with difficulties and suffering.
The prayer then addresses Mary as the advocate and pleads for her merciful gaze upon those who seek her help, saying, "Eia ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte" (Therefore, our advocate, turn those merciful eyes of yours towards us). The final lines of the prayer invoke Jesus, the blessed fruit of Mary's womb, and express the desire to behold him after the trials of earthly existence: "Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende" (And after this exile, show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb).
Overall, "Salve Regina" is a deeply heartfelt prayer to Mary, seeking her compassion, intercession, and the ultimate goal of union with Jesus. It reflects the belief in Mary's significant role in the spiritual journey of believers and the trust placed in her as a source of comfort and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Salve Regina, mater misericordiae: vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Hail Queen, mother of mercy: life, sweetness, and our hope, hail.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae.
To you we cry, exiled children of Eve.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle.
To you we sigh, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte.
Come then, our advocate, turn those merciful eyes of yours towards us.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
And show us after this exile, Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
O gentle, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Writer(s): Giovanni Battista
Contributed by Hailey D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SetiI_ceng
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ,
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
@koosloop
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae:
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus, exsules, filii Hevae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, Advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes oculos
ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis, post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens: O pia: O dulcis
Virgo Maria.
-------------------------------------------
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!
Our life, our sweetness, and our hope!
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve,
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley, of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this our exile show unto us the
blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus;
O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.
------------------------------------------
Salve, Regina,
madre di misericordia,
vita, dolcezza e speranza nostra, salve.
A te ricorriamo,
esuli figli di Eva;
a te sospiriamo, gementi e
piangenti in questa valle di lacrime.
Orsù dunque, avvocata nostra,
rivolgi a noi gli occhi
tuoi misericordiosi.
E mostraci, dopo questo esilio, Gesù,
il frutto benedetto del tuo Seno.
O clemente, o pia, o dolce Vergine Maria!
@Yunklob
Che acconciatura meravigliosa ha Silvia Frigato. Inoltre, è sempre vestita elegantemente, quindi la ammiro.
@WolfFranke
Das Salve Regina ist für mich eines der schönsten Musikstücke die es gibt. Die gezeigte Interpretation ist phantastisch.
@stefanocavallo88
Silvia Frigato, grazie!
@stefanoguarini4710
Una meraviglia... Ma anche il Duomo di Orvieto un applauso lo merita...
@fredericchopin7538
Magnificent!
@DanieleSantoroPoesie
Silvia Frigato: voce impeccabile, timbrica davvero notevole. Direzione esemplare. Sedotto!!!
@joshuagerthoffer2321
That ending song was sad and frightening yet very beautiful.
@shin-i-chikozima
Beyond description
Amazing
Full of admiration and deep emotion
This wonderful performance invites me into the unfathomable emotion
From
Tokyo of the Land of the Rising Sun🇯🇵
@fourfires
The whole performance fantastic. Silvia Frigato is sublime.
@remediosrerogra3869
Precioso❤❤❤