Jordi Savall i Bernadet (born 1941, in Igualada, Catalonia) is a Catalan vi… Read Full Bio ↴Jordi Savall i Bernadet (born 1941, in Igualada, Catalonia) is a Catalan viol player and composer. He is one of the major figures in the field of early music since the 1970s, largely responsible for bringing the viol (viola da gamba) back to life on the stage. His repertory ranges from Medieval to Renaissance and Baroque music.

Savall's musical training started in the school choir of his native town (1947-55). He later completed his training at the Barcelona Conservatory of Music (1959-65). Afterward, he began his specialisation in early music at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland (1968-70).

In 1974 he formed the ensemble Hespèrion XX (since 2000 as Hespèrion XXI), together with the soprano Montserrat Figueras (his wife), Lorenzo Alpert and Hopkinson Smith. Hespèrion XX favored a style of interpretation characterised by great musical vitality and at the same time, maximum historical accuracy.

In 1987 he returned to Barcelona to found La Capella Reial de Catalunya, a vocal ensemble devoted to the interpretation of music prior to the 18th century.

Finally, in 1989 Savall created Le Concert des Nations, an orchestra that is generally dedicated to the baroque repertoire, but which sometimes also serves as an outlet for music that hails from the classical/romantic repertoire (e.g. Sinfonia a Gran Orquesta by Juan Crisótomo de Arriga).

Savall's discography includes more than 140 recordings. Since 1998 he has released his records with his own label, Alia Vox.

Jordi Savall is also a two-time Grammy nominee, who scored the 1991 Alain Corneau film, Tous les matins du monde (also awarded the César of the French film industry in 1992). The soundtrack, re-released on his own Alia Vox label, has sold more than a million copies worldwide.

Qu'Es Mi Vida Preguntays
Jordi Savall Lyrics

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Qué’s mi vida preguntáys,
non vos la puedo negar:
bien amar y laumentar
es la vida que me days.

¿Quién vos pudiese servir
tan bien como yo he servido?
Mi trabajado bevir

¿quién pudiera aver sofrido?
¿Para qué me preguntáys
la pena que he de passar?

Pues amar y lamentar
es la vida que me days.

Overall Meaning

In the first verse of the song, the lyrics express the question "What is my life?" The singer acknowledges that they cannot deny the answer to this question. They reveal that the essence of their life is centered around two main aspects: loving and increasing. This suggests that their purpose in life is to love deeply and constantly strive for growth and improvement.

The second verse poses a rhetorical question, asking who could serve the listeners as well as the singer has served. This implies that the singer has dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to the listeners, perhaps in a role of service or support. They describe their life as a "trabajado bevir," which can be interpreted as a life filled with hard work, intense labor, or possibly adversity. The singer questions who else could have endured such hardships.

Continuing on, the singer pushes back against further questions about the struggles they may face. They imply that it is unnecessary to ask about the pain they will have to endure since love and lamentation are the very essence of the life that is given to them. This suggests that their life is characterized by a cycle of love and sorrow, possibly indicating that they experience both joy and sadness in equal measure.

Overall, these lyrics paint a picture of a life dedicated to love and growth, filled with hard work and the inevitable ups and downs of emotions. The singer's devotion to serving others is emphasized, and they seem to imply that their experiences of love and sorrow are intrinsic to the life they have been given.

Qu'Es Mi Vida PreguntaysJordi Savall Lyrics

Qu'Es Mi Vida Preguntays
Jordi Savall Lyrics