
Texts:
Francesa da Rimini (Inferno) – from Canto 5
O living creature, gracious and good, that goes through the black air visiting us who stained the world blood-red. If the King of the universe were a friend we would pray to Him for your peace, since you have pity on our plight. Of what it pleases you to hear, and what to speak, we will hear and we will speak to you, while the wind will let us pause.
Love, that on gentle heart quickly lays hold, seized him for the sweet body that was taken from me, the way of it still offends me. Love, which absolves no loved one from loving, seized me so strongly for his pleasing, that, as you see, it does not even now abandon me. Love brought us to one death. Hell awaits him who quenched our life.
There is no greater pain than to remember in misery the happy time, and that your Teacher knows. But if you have so great a desire to know the first root of our love, I will do like one who weeps while they speak. We were reading one day for delight of Lancelot, how love had overpowered him. We were alone and without any suspicion. Many times that reading made us lift our eyes, and took the color from our faces, and yet, only one passage overcame us. When we read of the longed-for smile being kissed by such a lover, this person, who never shall be divided from me, kissed my mouth all trembling. That day we read no further.
Sapia of Siena (Purgatory) – from Canto 13
I was of Siena, and with these others I cleanse my guilty life, weeping to God that He grant Himself to us. Sapient I was not, although I was called Sapia. I was far more glad of others’ harm than of my own good fortune. As you may not believe that I deceive, even as I tell you, hear how mad I was. The arch of my years already descending, my fellow-citizens were joined in battle near to the town of Colle with their adversaries, and I prayed to God that their fate be sealed. When, routed there, they took the bitter path of flight. I felt on seeing them pursued, a joy unequalled by all other joys; I therefore raised my defiant face and cried to God: ‘I fear you now no more!’ When I was at the end of life, I longed for peace with God. But who are you, that asks of our conditions, and has your eyes unsewn, as I guess, and still breathes when you talk?
Who, then, led you to us up here, if you think to return below? Oh, this is so strange to hear, it certainly proves God’s love for you; therefore assist me with your prayers! I beg you by what you hold most dear, If ever you tread the soil of Tuscany, that among my kin you restore my name.
Beatrice (Paradise) – from Cantos 22, 29 & 30
Do you not know you are now in Heaven? And know that all of Heaven is holy, andwhatever is done here comes from goodness and love? How the singing would have changed you, and I by smiling, as you can now imagine, since the cry has shocked you.Turn yourself around now toward the others, for many illustrious spirits shall you see, if you allow me to direct your eyes. You are so near the ultimate salvation, that you should keep your eyes clear and vision sharp. Therefore, look down once more, and see how great a world I have already set beneath your feet; so that your heart, as joyous as it can, may present itself to that triumphant crowd which happily comes through this ethereal sphere. The primal light radiates down to all and is received in as many ways as are the splendors in which the light shines. Since the affection follows upon the act that understands, in this nature the sweetness of love diversely glows and warms. Behold now the height and the breadth of the Eternal Goodness, since it has made for itself so many mirrors on which it can be divided, Itself remaining One, as it was always. The Love which calms this last Heaven always welcomes with such a greeting, in order to make the candle ready for its flame. Amen
Notes:
“Midway along the journey of our life I found myself in a dark wood”. Thus starts Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, where Dante the pilgrim (character) descends through hell, climbs up through purgatory and finally, rises through the spheres of heaven. Struggling in his life, Dante must go through adversity to find hope.
Ronald Royer’s Three Songs provide a snapshot of the three sections of Inferno, Purgatory and Paradise, illustrating the overall message of the journey. He chose to focus on the compelling stories of three female characters, who all lived around Dante’s time of 1300AD.
The story of Francesca da Rimini (from Inferno) is one of the most famous parts of the Divine Comedy. It is based on the true story of the noblewoman Francesa, who was married not for love, but for political purposes to Gianciotto. In time, Francesca entered into a love affair with her husband’s brother, Paolo. Gianciotto caught the couple in the act and murdered them. In the Divine Comedy, the lustful are punished eternally by being whirled about in a dark, stormy wind. Given a short reprieve, Francesca tells Dante her tragic story. Mr. Royer focused the music on these winds of hell and Francesca’s unrepentant agony of being murdered and sent to hell.
In Purgatory, pilgrims have the challenging journey of cleansing their sins, including having their eyes sewn shut with iron thread, wearing coarse and uncomfortable clothing, and climbing the treacherous Mount Purgatory. Sapia of Siena tells Dante of her experience in Purgatory as well as her “evil” life on earth. She describes a battle between Florence and her native Siena. She resented her nephew’s rise to power and hated her fellow Sienese, so she rejoiced in their defeat. Mr. Royer’s song starts in Purgatory, moves to the battle, and returns to Purgatory.
In life, Dante had an idealised platonic relationship with Beatrice (Bice) Portinati. After her death, she was the inspiration for Dante’s most famous written works. In the Divine Comedy, Beatrice serves as Dante the pilgrim’s heavenly protector. She sent Virgil (the ancient Roman writer) to guide Dante through Inferno and most of Purgatory. Then, Beatrice takes over to guide him into Paradise. Mr. Royer’s song starts with Dante feeling confused and overwhelmed by being in heaven. Beatrice comforts him and explains what’s happening. For the second part of the song, Beatrice sings about the pure light of heaven, which is full of goodness, joy and love.
Mr. Royer composed his Three Songs for mezzo soprano Danielle MacMillan and the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra. Danielle and her partner, Daniel Gibson provided enthusiastic encouragement for the project and help with the Italian translation of the text, for which Mr. Royer is thankful.