Vivaldi’s Nulla in mundo pax sincera, RV 630 — sacred motet for soprano.
Piano/vocal reduction. Available original key, baroque pitch, and three transpositions.
Nulla in mundo pax sincera, RV 630, is a sacred motet composed by Antonio Vivaldi in 1735 to an anonymous Latin text, the title of which may be translated as “In this world there is no honest peace” or “There is no true peace in this world without bitterness”. Written in the key of E major and in the typical lyrical Italian Baroque style, it is scored for solo soprano, two violins, viola and basso continuo, this would normally be a cello and keyboard instrument, in Vivaldi’s case often the organ. The text dwells on the imperfections of a world full of evil and sin, and praises Jesus for the salvation he offers from it. It is considered to be one of Vivaldi’s most beautiful solo motets.
The motet consists of three parts (Aria; Recitative; Aria), followed by a concluding Alleluia. A full performance of the piece takes approximately 13 minutes.
(wikipedia)
Text (Latin)
1. Aria
Nulla in mundo pax sincera
sine felle; pura et vera,
dulcis Jesu, est in te.
Inter poenas et tormenta
vivit anima contenta
casti amoris sola spe.
Recitativo
Blando colore oculos mundus decepit
at occulto vulnere corda conficit;
fugiamus ridentem, vitemus sequentem,
nam delicias ostentando arte secura
vellet ludendo superare.
2. Aria
Spirat anguis
inter flores et colores
explicando tegit fel.
Sed occulto factus ore
homo demens in amore
saepe lambit quasi mel.
3. Aria
Alleluia
Translation (English)
1. Aria
There is no sincere peace in the world
without bitterness; purity and truth,
sweet Jesus, lie in you.
Amidst punishments and torments
the soul lives contented
with chaste love its only hope.
Recitativo
The world deceives the eye with charming beauty
but consumes the heart with a hidden blow
let us flee he who ridicules, shun he who follows,
for by displaying pleasures carelessly
he wishes to conquer.
2. Aria
The snake hisses
among the flowers and beauty
uncoiling its hidden poison.
But these concealed, contaminated lips
a man wild in love
often licks as if it were honey.
3. Aria
Alleluia
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