Art Song Central

Title: Caro mio ben

Composer: attributed to Giuseppe Giordani (1744-1798)

[John Glenn Paton cites evidence that the actual composer is Tommaso Giordani (1730-1806)]

Author: Unknown

Important note: This 18th century Italian aria is perhaps best known as it appears in Schirmer’s Twenty-Four Italian Songs and Arias. The pieces in that collection were generally set with very romanticized accompaniments. Though they aren’t very stylistically correct, they are perhaps the most familiar. The editions linked here may differ somewhat, but they are also likely to be overly romantic in style. For more stylistically correct versions of most of these common Italian songs and arias, consider purchasing 26 Italian Songs and Arias, edited by John Glenn Paton, which is available in Medium High and Medium Low editions that each come with an accompaniment CD.

Free at Art Song Central:

• PDF: Caro mio ben
• Key: E♭ Major
• Range: D4 – F5
• Note: This is the well known arrangement by Parisotti
• Source: Anthology of Italian Song of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
• PDF: Caro mio ben in E♭
• Key: E♭ Major
• Range: D4 – F5
• Source: La Mejor Musica del Mundo
• PDF: Caro mio ben in D
• Key: D Major
• Range: C♯3 – E4
• This version has the vocal line in Bass Clef.
• Source: German, French and Italian Song Classics

Elsewhere on the Internet:

• Transcribed at Mutopia: Caro mio ben
• Key: PDF available in D Major
• Range: C♯4 – E5
• Lilypond source file also available to edit or transpose.

Mp3:

• A variety of recordings are available via Classic Cat

MIDI:

• Available at Mutopia: Caro mio ben

Text:

Caro mio ben, credimi almen,
senza di te languisce il cor.
Il tuo fedel sospira ognor.
Cessa, crudel, tanto rigor!

IPA Transcription:

IPA for Caro mio ben, courtesy of IPANow! transcription software.

• Recmusic.org has texts and translations.