O Rosa Bella

"O rosa bella" is the title of two popular 15th century chansons, the earlier composed by Johannes Ciconia and the latter originally attributed to John Dunstaple, but now to John Bedyngham (Fallows 1994). The text is based on a poem written by Leonardo Giustiniani (1388–1446).

The text of the first verse is:

O rosa bella,

O dolce anima mia

Non mi lassar morire

In cortesia, in cortesia.

Stanley Sadie in the Cambridge Music Guide^{[full citation needed]} gives as translation:

O lovely rose

My sweet soul

Let me not die

In courtly love

The chanson was used as a basis for several other works, including that by Johannes Ockeghem, and masses attributed to Gilles Joye; however, Johannes Ciconia's early version shares the words but not the tune (McComb n.d.).

Recordings

O rosa bella: English and Continental Music from the Late Gothic Period: Clemencic Consort / René Clemencic (Arte Nova 59210)

References

Fallows, David. 1994. "Dunstable, Bedyngham, and O rosa bella". The Journal of Musicology 12, No. 3, Aspects of Musical Language and Culture in the Renaissance: A Birthday Tribute to James Haar (Summer): 287–305.
McComb, Todd M. n.d. "O rosa bella: English and Continental Music from the Late Gothic Period. Clemencic Consort – René Clemencic. Arte Nova 59210". www.medieval.org (accessed 16 April 2019).