Una furtiva lagrima
Short aria for tenor
"Una furtiva lagrima" is so beautiful that sopranos, altos, and baritones wish they could sing it too! Now they can, by choosing one of the five keys featured on this page. Scroll down the page to find:
- free vocal lines (lead sheets)
- piano/vocal accompaniments in 5 keys
The aria is from "L'Elisir d'Amore" (The Elixir of Love) by Donizetti. Here is a beautiful rendering of this short aria by Jose Carreras, in a film about Spanish opera singer Julian Gayarre, Romanza Final:
If you would like to read some of the comments about this performance and the film itself, visit the Youtube.com page. What are the contents of the letter that makes him catch his breath and sing with so much pathos?
Here are the settings for vocalists, below (shown is the key of Em -- the original is higher, in Bb minor). Farther down the page are the full vocal and piano accompaniments, also offered here in 5 keys.
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
To non-Italian singers, Una furtiva lagrima SOUNDS as though the singer is gripped by sadness -- the minor key and dramatic intervals of the melody make it evident that, well, SOMETHING momentous has happened!
But the "secretive tear" (furtiva lagrima) in Adina's eye has convinced Nemorino that she cares for him -- LOVES HIM! -- and he is so ecstatic that he cries, "Heaven, one could die! One could die of love!"
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
Looking at the high notes of the original - up to Ab, three times - you may wonder why this aria is a challenge. Well it's because it spends so much time up there!
The RANGE of "Una furtiva lagrima" is reasonable, but the TESSITURA - where the notes are primarily set - is in the high part of the range.
The cadenza at the end of the song makes sense when you listen to a singer executing the passage. For my own singers, I place little fermata symbols along the line to help them when they are first learning it.
Here are the 5 pages of voice with piano accompaniment.
This version of Una furtiva lagrima is for sale only, $5.00 for UNLIMITED COPIES (for your students only) in 5 keys: Bbm (the original key), Am, Gm, Fm, and Em:
Take a look at page one of the vocal with piano accompaniment:
Because of how low the first few measures of the accompaniment are in the original key, I have altered the left hand in the other keys by bringing the bass notes up an octave and also condensing the broken chord pattern a bit, until halfway through measure 7, where the original pattern resumes.
Here is page 2, shown in the key of A minor:
Page 3 of Una furtiva lagrima is shown in the key of Gm:
Page 4 is shown in the key of Fm:
The final page of the piano accompaniment for this short aria shows you how the key of Em looks:
Buy all 5 versions of Una furtiva lagrima, in the keys of Bb minor (original), Am, Gm, Fm, and Em, $5.00 for all 5 PDF files:
So why should you buy "Una furtiva lagrima" from me, aside from the fact that music stores charge more for just one copy (not counting postage or sales tax!), while I am only charging $5.00 for the right to print UNLIMITED COPIES (for your students only)?
It is available immediately as a digital download onto your computer.
You don't have to download any new software into your computer in order to download this PDF. I don't know about you, but I hate clogging up my computer with yet another program I didn't know I needed. You just need a version of Adobe Acrobat or another PDF reader, which all computers come with. If you DON'T have Adobe Acrobat or a similar program, then you couldn't download any of my other PDFs either.
The notes and lyrics are a little bigger than the copies currently available in music stores, making reading easier!
Speaking of reading the music, you can print this music on any kind of paper you want, and thus avoid the glare of shiny pages (so irritating for accompanists!).
Write and make notes all over these copies, in red and other colors, without feeling you are spoiling your music for posterity. I dislike messing up my music books, but learning the piece is always the first priority. These printouts will make great working copies.
Do you need a letter of permission in order to use this music at a competition? Write me through the Contact Me form, and I will email you a personal letter.
I give you permission to make unlimited copies legally, FOR YOUR STUDENTS ONLY. When you need music, you usually need it NOW. Your accompanist, your soloist-student... let them have this music without fear of copyright infringement.
Paypal, the payment system I use, is a secure and recognized payment system. You can pay by credit or debit card, or your bank account. E-Junkie delivers the PDF document, working as a partner with PayPal...your purchase is guaranteed.
Buy Una furtiva lagrima in the keys of Bb minor (original), Am, Gm, Fm, and Em, $5.00 for all 5 PDF files:
Another beautiful performance of the short aria, Una furtiva lagrima, this time by Roberto Alagna:
Add this lovely aria to your music collection now!
The links to the free lead sheets:
Download short aria Una furtiva lagrima in the key of Em
Download short aria for tenor in the key of Fm
Dianna:
Your website is a light in the darkness. THANK YOU for all you do in helping to spread the love of music. It matters!
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Toni:
Thank you for your wonderful website. I also teach piano, voice and guitar - spooky! My absolute passion is opera, and have opened many a singing student's ear to the beautiful melodies and voices in the repertoire.
Thank you for the wonderful warm-ups which I have downloaded, and will be using at the earliest opportunity - I will let you know how they go! Looking forward to more warm up ideas, too.
Jane:
I just came across your website. Thank you for your wonderful generosity in sharing all these tools and tips! I am 78 years old, have sung solos and in choirs all my life and am currently appearing in our local Mary Poppins production as the Bird Woman.
The mother of one of our very young actors (7) has asked me if I would teach her to sing. I am not sure I am qualified, but with all the tools you have provided, I am considering it.
About the Author
Hi, I'm Dana! (Say that like "Anna".) I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.
Like some of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.
You can find out more about me and the reason for this website at my About Me page.
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