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Programme
Josquin des Prez (c. 1450 -1521) was the pre-eminent Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance, renowned for both sacred and secular works. Martin Luther’s said of him: "he is the master of the notes. They must do as he wills; as for the other composers, they have to do as the notes will…." Benedicta es is a typical Marian motet, in 6 parts. Cipriano de Rore (1515 -1565) was born on thet border of France and Flanders, and was greatly influenced by the Franco-Flemish style of Josquin. He spent most of his life in Italy, and was especially know for the development of the madrigal. Susanne un jour is a old testament text, paraphrased by the poet Guillaume Guéroult. The melody, published in a book of chansons by Lupi,1548, was very popular at the time, and set by many composers. Pierre Passereau (c. 1509 -1547) is also known for his chansons, in particular his best known "Il est bel et bon", with its imagery of clucking hens at the end. He worked in the cathedrals of Bourges and Cambrai.
Benedicta es, caelorum regina,
Et mundi totius domina,
Et aegris medicina.
Tu praeclara maris stella vocaris,
Quae solem justitiae paris,
A quo illuminaris.
Te Deus Pater, ut Dei Mater
Fieres et ipse frater,
Cujus eras filia,
Sanctificavit, sanctam servavit,
Et mittens sic salutavit:
Ave plena gratia.
Per illud ave prolatum
Et tuum responsum gratum
Est ex te Verbum incarnatum,
Quo salvantur omnia.
Nunc Mater exora natum,
Ut nostrum tollat reatum,
Et regnum det nobis paratum
In caelesti patria.
Amen.
Blessed you are, queen of heaven,
And ruler of the whole world,
And medicine for the sick.
You are called brightest star of the sea,
Who give birth to the sun of clemency,
By whom you are illuminated.
God the Father, that you might become
God's Mother and he God's brother,
Whose daughter you were,
Sanctified you, kept you sacred,
And sent you this greeting:
Hail, full of grace.
Through that spoken "Hail"
And your pleasing response
The Word became flesh from you,
By whom all are saved.
Now, Mother, implore your son,
That he may take away our guilt,
And may give us the kingdom prepared
In the celestial fatherland.
Amen.
Susanne un jour d'amour solicitée
par deux viellardz, convoitans sa beauté,
fut en son coeur triste et desconfortée,
voyant l'effort fait à sa chasteté.
Elle leur dict, Si par desloyauté
de ce corps mien vous avez jouissance,
c'est fait de moy. Si je fay resistance,
vous me ferez mourir en deshonneur.
Mais j'aime mieux périr en innocence,
que d'offenser par peché le Seigneur
One day, Susanne's love was solicited by
two old men coveting her beauty.
She became sad and displeased in her heart,
seeing the attempt at her chastity.
She said, 'If, dishonourably,
from my body you take pleasure,
this is done to me. If I resist,
you would make me die in disgrace.
But I would rather perish innocent,
than to offend the Lord with a sin.
Il est bel est bon, bon, bon, commère, mon mari,
Il était deux femmes toutes d'un pays,
Disant l'une à l'autre avez bon mari?
Il ne me courrouce ne me bat aussi.
Il fait le ménage,
Il donne aux poulailles,
Et je prends mes plaisirs.
Commère c'est pour rire
Quand les poulailles crient:
Petite coquette (co co co co dac), qu'est ceci?
"My husband is handsome and fine ..,"
Once two women from the same village were gossiping,
Saying one to the other, "Do you have a good husband?"
"He doesn't scold me, or beat me; he does the chores, he feeds the chickens,
And I take my pleasure”
Girl, you have to laugh
to hear the cries of the chickens,
'Little flirt (co, co, co, co, dac), what is that?'"
Étienne Moulinié (1599-1676) was born in Languedoc. He was known for sacred and secular music, and also music to accompany the ballet. Simile est regnum is a setting of a parable from St Matthew’s gospel, taken from a publication "Meslanges de sujets chrestiens"; a; collection of 38 works on biblical or spiritual texts. Antoine Boësset (1586-1643) was a composer and singer who served as the court musician to Louis XIII. He was renowned for his ‘airs de cour’, secular or religious songs set in a verse structure, such as Jesu nostra redemptio.
Machy, known as Le Sieur de Machy (fl. 1655–1700) was a viol player, composer and teacher. His Pièces de Violle en Musique et en Tablature (1685), are an important historical resource for viol-playing practice, giving guidance on technique and ornamentation.
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Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704) epitomizes the French Baroque period, with his compositions of oratorios, masses, operas, motets and numerous smaller works. His most well-known composition is arguably the theme tune to the Te Deum, which is used as the signature tune for the European Broadcasting Union, heard at the beginning of the Eurovision Song Contest. Salve puerule is the final movement from his Christmas oratorio. Regina Caeli is an exuberant motet for the Easter season
Simile est regnum cælorum homini negotiatori, quærenti bonas margartas inventa autem;
Una pretiosa margaritas, abiit et vendidit omnia que habuit, et emit eum. Alleluya
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant in search of fine pearls; On finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Alleluia.
Jesu, nostra redemptio,
Amor et desiderium,
Deus creator omnium,
Homo in fine temporum.
Quae te vicit clementia,
Ut ferres nostra crimina,
Crudelem mortem patiens
Ut nos a morte tolleres!
Inferni claustra penetrans,
Tuos captivos redimens,
Victor triumpho nobili
Ad dextram Dei residens
Tu esto nostrum gaudium,
Qui es futurus praemium,
Sit nostra in te gloria,
In sempiterna saecula.
Jesus, our redemption,
love and desire,
God, Creator of all things,
becomes man in the fullness of time.
What mercy made thee
bear our crimes,
to suffer a cruel death
that we might be saved from death!
Descending into Hell’s prison,
freeing thy captives,
Thy noble triumph won,
dwelling at the Father’s right hand.
Be our joy,
who will be our future prize;
let all our glory be in Thee
for ever and ever.
Salve puerule, salve tenellule,
o nate parvule quam bonus es.
Tu coelum deseris, tu mundo nasceris,
nobis te'ut miseris assimiles.
O summa bonitas! Excelsa deitas
Vilis humanitas fit hodie.
Aeternus nascitur, immensus capitur
et rei tegitur sub specie.
Virgo puerpera, beata viscera
Dei cum opera dent filium.
Gaude, flos virginum, gaude, spes hominum,
fons lavans criminum proluvium.
Hail, little boy, Hail, tender babe,
O little son, how good you are.
You leave heaven, and are born in the world
making yourself like us wretched mortals.
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O supreme goodness! Lofty Godhead
That today becomes lowly humanity.
The eternal one is born, the boundless contained, and hid in worldly guise.
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Virgin mother, your blessed womb
Gives birth to a a son by the help of God.
Rejoice, flower of virgins, Rejoice, hope of mankind, O spring which washes away the stain of sins
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) was a composer and pianist known for his diverse musical style, which ranged from neoclassical to avant-garde. Poulenc's religious vocal music has a special intensity and spiritual fervour, which he is able to create from small forces, predominantly 4-part writing. Salve Regina is a Marian antiphon. Déodat de Séverac (1872-1921) also originated from Languedoc. He was known for his impressionistic compositions, and for vocal music in the historic language of Languedoc and Roussillon. Tantum ergo is a short miniature of a hymn words used at the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Pierre Villette (1926-1998) was born in Normandy, and studied with Duruflé. His compositions have been described as ethereal and atmospheric, influenced by more by Gregorian chant, early church music and Jazz, than by avant-garde music that was being pursued by fellow students such as Boulez. Hymne a la Vierge is a setting of a poem by Roland Bouhéret. Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) was a highly influential French composer, known for a unique sense of tonality and innovative compositions, often featuring religious themes and incorporating birdsong – Messiaen was a keen ornithologist. Messiaen had synesthesia, perceiving sounds as colour. Although Messiaen’s organ output is abundant, there is just one vocal motet, O sacrum convivium!; similar in style to his organ mediation Le Banquet Céleste.
Salve Regina, Mater Misericordiae,
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, Salve!
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii [H]evae,
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes,
In hac lacrimarum valle.
Eja ergo, Advocata nostra,
Illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
Nobis, post hoc exilium, ostende,
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry,
Poor banished children of Eve;
To thee do we send up our sighs,
Mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
Thine eyes of mercy toward us;
And after this our exile,
Show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Tantum ergo sacramentum
veneremur cernui,
et antiquum documentum
novo cedat ritui;
praestet fides supplementum
sensuum defectui.
Genitori Genitoque
laus et iubilatio,
salus, honor, virtus quoque
sit et benedictio;
procedenti ab utroque
compar sit laudatio.
Amen.
Therefore we, before him bending,
This great sacrament revere:
Types and shadows have their ending,
For the newer rite is here;
Faith, our outward sense befriending,
Makes the inward vision clear.
Glory let us give and blessing
To the Father and the Son,
Honour, might and praise addressing,
While eternal ages run;
Ever to his love confessing,
Who, from both, with both is one.
Amen
Hymn a la Vierge: O toute belle, Vierge Marie,
Votre âme trouve en Dieu Le parfait amour.
Il vous revêt du manteau de la Grâce
Comme une fiancée Parée de ses joyaux.
Alléluia, Alléluia,
Je vais chanter ta louange, Seigneur,
Car tu as pris soin de moi, Car tu mʼas envelopée du voile de lʼinnocence.
Vous êtes née avant les collines, O sagesse de Dieu Porte du Salut.
Hereux ce lui qui marche dans vos traces, Qui apprête son Coeur A la voix de vos conseils.
Alléluia, Alléluia,
Je vais chanter ta louange, Seigneur,
Car tu mʼas faite, avant le jour, Car tu mʼas fait précéder le jaillissement des sources.
Avant les astres Vous étiez présente
Mère du Créateur Au profound du ciel
Quand Dieu fixait les limites du monde
Vous partagiez con coeur
Etant à lʼoeuvre avec lui.
O toute belle Vierge Marie.
O fairest Virgin Mary, your soul finds the perfect love in God. He clothes you with the mantle of grace, like a bride adorned with her jewels. Alleluia, alleluia,
I will sing your praise, Lord, for you have cared for me, you have wrapped me in the veil of purity.
You were born before the hills were made, O wisdom of God, gate of salvation. Happy is he who follows in your footsteps, who makes his heart ready to hear the voice of your counsels. Alleluia, alleluia,
I will sing your praise, Lord, for you created me before the day, before the bubbling of the springs,
You were there before the stars were made, Mother of God, in the heights of heaven; when God decreed the boundaries of the world, you were there in his heart and with him in his handiwork.
O fairest Virgin Mary
O sacrum convivium! in quo Christus sumitur;
recolitur memoria passionis ejus;
mens impletur gratia;
et futurae gloriae nobis pignus datur.
Alleluia.
O sacred banquet, in which Christ is received;
the memorial of his passion is renewed;
the soul is filled with grace;
and a pledge of future glory is given to us.
Alleluia
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was regarded as a pioneer of Impressionist music. Debussy's compositions, such as "Clair de Lune" and "La Mer," are celebrated for their innovative harmonic language and atmospheric qualities, evoking visual and emotional responses. Dieu! qu’il la fait bon regarder! is the first of a set of three songs, to words by Charles d'Orleans. Charles Trenet (1913-2001) was a singer-songwriter, who was immensely popular in France and internationally during the mid-20th century. His catalogue numbers around 1000 songs, of which “Boum” and “la Mer” as his best known.
Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur (1908-2002) was born in Paris, and studied at the Conservatoire there from age 11. He was lifelong friend of Messiaen. Epithalame is the final song in a sequence of seven songs based on texts from the Old Testament Song of Songs.
Dieu! qu'il la fait bon regarder
la gracieuse bonne et belle;
pour les grans biens que sont en elle
chascun est prest de la loüer.
Qui se pourrait d'elle laser?
Toujours sa beauté renouvelle.
Par de ça, ne de là, la mer
ne scay dame ne damoiselle
qui soit en tous bien parfais telle.
C'est un songe que d'y penser:
Dieu! qu'il la fait bon regarder.
God, what a vision she is;
one imbued with grace, true and beautiful!
For all the virtues that are hers
everyone is quick to praise her.
Who could tire of her?
Her beauty constantly renews itself;
On neither side of the ocean
do I know any girl or woman
who is in all virtues so perfect;
it's a dream even to think of her;
God, what a vision she is.
La mer
Qu'on voit danser Le long des golfes clairs
A des reflets d'argent
La mer
Des reflets changeants Sous la pluie
La mer
Qu'au ciel d'été confound Ses blancs moutons Avec les anges si purs
La mer
Bergère d'azur, infinie
Voyez
Près des étangs Ces grands roseaux mouillés
Voyez
Ces oiseaux blancs
Et ces maisons rouillées
La mer
Les a bercés Le long des golfes clairs
Et d'une chanson d'amour
La mer
A bercé mon cœur pour la vie
The sea,
We see dancing along the clear bay shores,
Shimmers with silver
The sea
Changing refelctions Under the rain
The sea
With the summer sky blends her white sheep
With the angels so pure
The sea
The infinite azure shepherdess
O see
By the pools Those tall wet reeds;
See
Those white birds
And these rusted houses
The sea
Has cradled them along the clear bay shores,
And with a love song
The sea
Has cradled my heart for life.
Epithalame: Veni sponsa Christi; accipe coronam, quam tibi dominus praeparavit in aeternum. Alleluia.
Pose-moi comme un sceau sur ton Coeur, comme un sceau sur ton bras:
Car l’amout est fort comme la mort.
La jalousie est dure comme l’enfer,
Ses traits sont de feu une flamme de Yahvé.
Les grandes eaux n’ont pu eteindre l’amour,
Les fleuves ne submergeront pas!
[Coelestis urbs Jerusalme Beata pacis visio]
[Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison]
Alleluia Domine, alleluia.
Come, bride of Christ; receive the crown which the Lord has prepared in eternity. Alleluia.
Set me as a seal upon thine heart.
As a seal upon your arm.
For love is strong as strong as death.
Jealousy is fierce as hell,
Its flames the very flame of Yahweh,
Many waters cannot quench love.
Neither can the floods drown it.
[O heavenly city of Jerusalem Blest vision of peace] [Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy].
Alleluia, Lord, alleluia
INDEX CANTORUM for tonight is
Abigail King, Ruth Shannon, Jenny Tribe, Caroline Wainwright,
Erin Brookes, Izy King, Jane McClelland, Judy Naylor, Polly Smith,
Christine Lewry, Julie Mutton, Susan Ramsey, Leigh Warren-Thomas,
Sandy Hardacre, Anna Westrop, Karen Williams,
Paco Alacon, Simon Lillystone, Chris Palmer, Paul Shepherd,
John Lunt, Julian Poppleton, Benedict Roose, Stephen Delany,
Graham King, Richard Steedman, Jonathan Tribe.
Viola da Gamba: Andrew Kerr
Violins: Simon Lillystone, Jane McClelland
Continuo: Stephen Delany
Director: Mark Williams