He served the Medici court in Florence as music director from 1600.
In reaction to the polyphonic musical style of the Renaissance, he discussed his ideas for a new style of monody, accompanied solo song, in his Le nuove musiche (1602). The monodies in this publication contain expressive melodies accompanied by block chords rather than the traditional polyphony. He abhored excessive ornamentation in vocal lines, a practice singers had adopted during the Renaissance. His vocal lines were simple, syllabic with ornamentation only at appropriate moments.
He was a member of a group of musicians and poets known as the Florentine Camerata. Members of this group created the first operas. In 1600 Caccini and Jacopo Peri both set the poem Euridice by Ottavio Rinuccini (1562-1621) to music. Caccini's score reflects the style of the madrigals and airs found in his Le nuove musiche.
Amarilli mia bella
Giulio Caccini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Non credi, o del mio cor dolce desio,
D'esser tu l'amor mio?
Credilo pur: Dubitar non ti vale.
Aprimi il petto e vedrai scritto in core:
Amarilli, Amarilli, Amarailli
è il mio amore.
Amarilli, mia bella,
D'esser tu l'amor mio?
Credilo pur: Dubitar non ti vale.
Aprimi il petto e vedrai scritto in core:
Amarilli, Amarilli, Amarailli
è il mio amore.
Amarailli è il mio amore.
The lyrics to Giulio Caccini's song Amarilli mia bella paint a picture of an unrequited love that the singer is desperately trying to make known to their beloved. The song opens with the singer addressing their love interest, Amarilli, and asking her if she truly believes that she is not the love of their heart's desire. The singer then implores Amarilli to believe them when they say that she is indeed the love of their life and that there is no doubt about it.
The next lines are particularly poignant, as the singer tells Amarilli to open their chest and see the words "Amarilli, Amarilli, Amarilli è il mio amore" (Amarilli, Amarilli, Amarilli is my love) written on their heart. This is a declaration of the singer's undying love for Amarilli and a plea for her to take a chance on them and believe in their love.
Throughout the entire song, there is a sense of desperation and longing that is palpable in the lyrics. The singer is clearly struggling to express the depth of their feelings to Amarilli and is hoping that she will be able to see and feel their love for her.
Overall, the lyrics to Amarilli mia bella are a beautiful and emotional exploration of unrequited love and the power of the human heart to hold onto hope even in the face of rejection.
Line by Line Meaning
Amarilli, mia bella,
Oh my beautiful Amarilli,
Non credi, o del mio cor dolce desio,
Do you not believe, oh sweet desire of my heart,
D'esser tu l'amor mio?
That you are the love of my life?
Credilo pur:
Believe it,
Dubitar non ti vale.
It's not worth doubting.
Aprimi il petto e vedrai scritto in core:
Open up my chest and you'll see written in my heart:
Amarilli, Amarilli, Amarailli
Amarilli, Amarilli, Amarilli
è il mio amore.
Is my love.
Contributed by Matthew R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.