''Malìa'' (Italian "enchantment") is an 1887 Italian

art song An art song is a Western world, Western vocal music Musical composition, composition, usually written for one voice with piano accompaniment, and usually in the classical music, classical art music tradition. By extension, the term "art song" is ...

composed by

Paolo Tosti Sir Francesco Paolo Tosti Royal Victorian Order, KCVO (9 April 1846, Ortona, Abruzzo2 December 1916, Rome) was an Italian composer and music teacher. Today, he is remembered mostly for his light-hearted songs, which are popular among vocal stu ...

to a poem by Rocco Pagliara. It is acknowledged as one of the standards of the Italian classical song repertory. The song begins "Cosa c'era ne'l fior che m'hai dato? forse un filtro, Un arcano poter?". - translated as "What was it in the flower you gave me, a love potion perhaps or a secret power?"In Celebration of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's 60th Birthday 1991 p20 MALIA What was it in the flower you gave me , A philtre perhaps or a secret power ?

References

{{authority control 1887 songs Art songs Songs in Italian