A RENAISSANCE REQUIEM

Transcription

1 A RENAISSANCE REQUIEM Tonight s concert will be performed without an intermission. To allow for a more contemplative audience experience, we suggest reserving applause for the beginning and ending of the program. Please ensure that all electronic devices are now switched off. VIGILIA (Vigil) Antiphon: Apud Dominum misericordia Psalmus: De profundis clamavi Motectum: Taedet animam meam MISSA PRO DEFUNCTIS (Requiem Mass) Plainchant, mode IV Tomás-Luis de Victoria (ca ) Victoria (with additional liturgical plainchant) Introitus: Requiem aeternam Oratio / Graduale: Requiem aeternam Tract: Absolve, Domine Evangelicum Offertorium: Domine Jesu Christe Prefatio / Sanctus & Benedictus Agnus Dei I, II & III Communio: Lux aeterna / Postcommunio Motectum: Versa est in luctum Responsorium: Libera me, Domine Versus: Tremens factus sum ego / Versus: Dies illa, dies irae Responsorium: Libera me, Domine

2 Texts, Translations & Program Notes Tomás Luis de Victoria was born in Ávila, Spain, into a large and wealthy family that had favorable connections with the nobility and the church, affording him the best possible education. Finishing his studies in Rome, where he was organist and choirmaster in several Spanish churches, Victoria eventually settled into an advantageous clerical position, which permitted him the use of an extraordinarily fine choir and liturgical tradition for the inspiration and realization of his music. Between March and August of 1575 he expanded his duties in the church by becoming lector and exorcist, then sub-deacon, deacon and finally, priest. Because of his family income and a number of clerical benefices granted to him in Spain, Victoria could afford to publish most of his music, and send it across the breadth of Europe and the Spanish New World. In 1583, he issued his second book of masses, and in the dedication to King Philip II he solicited consideration for a position in his homeland, where he could quietly function as priest and composer. His request was granted (probably in 1587), and he was appointed personal chaplain to the king's sister, the Dowager Empress Maria, wife of the Emperor Maximilian II. Following her husband's death, Maria chose to retire to a convent: the Monasterio de las Descalzas de Santa Clara de la Villa de Madrid (Convent of Barefoot Nuns of Saint Clare), founded in 1564, and whose clergy and patrons had connections to the highest Spanish nobility. With a considerably large endowment, the convent s music program was especially well looked after and allowed Victoria s writing to flourish. In addition to his duties as the Empress's personal chaplain, Victoria was appointed chapel master (for life). He had at his disposal a choir composed (by royal decree) of twelve priests trained as singers and having no other offices or duties, and four boys. Mass was sung twice daily. Within this serene environment, Victoria passed the rest of his life. In 1603, the Empress Maria died, leaving Victoria an endowed chaplaincy in the convent. In 1605, Victoria mortgaged several of his incomes in order to publish his Officium defunctorum (Office of the Dead), written in her memory. Contained in this publication is the exquisite 6-part Missa pro defunctis (Requiem Mass), which we perform this evening, and arguably one of the great masterpieces of the high Renaissance. In this work, melodic segments of the original plainchant for the mass - as in countless other masses written throughout the previous 150 years - functions as the cantus firmus (main melody), which are stretched over long notes and enveloped by Victoria s glorious harmonic structure. But instead of appearing in the tenor part, as it was most commonly found, this elongated melody soars in broad phrases, almost entirely in the second soprano part. We are especially proud to present this program as way of celebrating our 20 th birthday, as the Victoria Requiem was presented on our very first concert in November of 1996 (at the Basilica of Saint Mary on a VERY snowy evening). It is truly a blessing to be able to sing this incredible work of art again. -Jordan Sramek, 2016

3 VIGILIA Antiphon Apud Dominum misericordia, Et copiosa apud eum redemptio. Psalmus De profundis clamavi ad te Domine Domine exaudi vocem meam fiant aures tuae intendentes in vocem deprecationis meae Si iniquitates observabis Domine Domine quis sustinebit Quia apud te propitiatio est propter legem tuam sustinui te Domine Sustinuit anima mea in verbo eius Speravit anima mea in Domino. A custodia matutina usque ad noctem speret Israhel in Domino. Quia apud Dominum misericordia: et copiosa apud eum redemptio Et ipse redimet Israel ex omnibus iniquitatibus eius. Gloria patri et filio et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Motectum (Lectio II ad matutinum) Taedet animam meam vitae meam dimittam adversum me eloquium meum. Loquar in amaritudine animae meae. Dicam Deo: noli me condemnare. cur me ita iudices. Numquid bonum tibi videtur si calumnieris et opprimas me opus manuum tuarum et consilium impiorum adiuves? Numquid oculi carnie tibi sunt aut sicut videt homo et tu videbis? Numquid sicut dies hominis dies tui et anni tui sicut humana sunt tempora ut quaeras iniquitatem meam et peccatum meum scruteris? et scias quia nihil impium fecerim cum sit nemo qui de manu tua possit eruere? VIGIL Antiphon With the Lord there is mercy, and with him plentiful redemption. Psalm (129) Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice. Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it. For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on his word: my soul hath hoped in the Lord. From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Motet (Lesson II of Matins for the Dead) My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say unto God: `Do not condemn me; show me why You contend with me. Is it good unto You that You should oppress, that You should despise the work of Your hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked? Have You eyes of flesh; Do You see as man sees? are Your days as the days of man, and are Your years as man's days, that You inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin? You know that I am not wicked, and there is none that can deliver out of Your hand?

4 MISSA PRO DEFUNCTIS Introitus Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem. Exaudi orationem meam; ad te omnis caro veniet. eleison. Christe eleison. eleison. Oratio Solo: Timothy Campbell V. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. V. Oremus: Deus, cui proprium est miserere semper et parcere, te suplices exoramus pro anima famuli tui quam hodie de hoc seculo migare iusisti: ut non tradas eam in manus inimici, neque obliviscaris in finem, sed iubeas eam a sanctis angelis suscipi et ad patriam paradisi perduci: ut, quia in te speravit et credidit, non penas inferni sustineat sed gaudia aeterna possideat. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen MASS FOR THE DEAD (REQUIEM MASS) Introit Rest eternal grant them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them. To thee praise is due, O God, in Zion, and to thee vows are recited in Jerusalem. Hear my prayer; unto thee all flesh shall come. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Prayer V. May the Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. V. Let us pray: O God, whose Property is ever to have mercy and to spare, we humbly beseech Thee on behalf of the soul of Thy servant, who Thou hast this day called out of this world, that Thou wouldst not deliver him into the hands of the enemy not forget him forever, but command that he be taken up by Thy holy angels and borne to our home in paradise, that having put his hope and trust in Thee, he may not undergo the pains of hell, but may come to the possession of eternal joys. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen

5 Graduale Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Im memoria aeterna erit Justus: Ab auditione mala non timebit. Tract Absolve, Domine, animas omnium fidelium defunctorum ab omni vinculo delictorum: Et gratia tua illis succurrente, mereantur evadere judicium ultionis: Evangelicum Solo: Jake Endres V. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. V. Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Ioannem. R. Gloria tibi Domine. V. In illo tempore, dixit Martha ad Iesum: Domine, si fuisses hic, frater meus non fuisset mortuus, sed et nunc scio quia quecumque poposceris a Deo, dabit tibi Deus. Dicit illi Iesus: Resurget frater tuus. Dicit ei Martha: Scio quia resurget in resurrectione in novissimo die. Dixit ei Iesus: Ego sum resurrectio et vita; quia credit in me, etiam si mortuus fuerit, vivet; et omnis qui vivit et credit in me, non morietur in aeternum. Credis hoc? Ait illi: Utique, Domine, ego credidi, quia tu es Christus Filius Dei vivi, qui in hunc mundum venisti. Gradual Rest eternal grant them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them. The just will be remembered eternally: They will not fear a bad reputation. Tract Absolve, O Lord, the souls of all the faithful departed from every bond of sin. And by the help of Thy grace may they be enabled to escape the avenging judgment. Gospel V. May the Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. V. A passage of the holy Gospel according to St John. R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord! V. At that time, Martha said to Jesus: Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died: but now also I know that whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee. Jesus saith to her: Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith to Him: I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus saith to her: I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, although he be dead, shall no die for ever. Believest thou this? She saith to Him: Yea, Lord, I have believed that Thou art Christ the Son of the living God, who art come into this world.

6 Offertorium Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, libera animas defunctorum de poenis inferni, et de profundo lacu. Libera eas de ore leonis, ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum. Hostias et preces tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus. Tu suscipe pro animabus illis quarum hodie memoriam facimus. Fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam, quam olim Abrahae promisisti, et semini eius Prefatio Solo: Mark Dietrich V. Per omnia secula seculorum. V. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. V. Sursum corda. R. Habemus ad Dominum. V. Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro. R. Dignum et iustum est. V. Vere dignum et iustum est eqim et salutare; nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere. Domine Sancte Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem maiestatem tuam laudant angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt potestates, coeli elorumque virtutes ac beata seraphim, socia exultatione concelebrant, cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti iubeas deprecamur suplici confessione dicentes: Offertory Lord Jesus Christ, King of Glory, deliver the souls of the dead from punishment in the inferno, and from the infernal lake. Deliver them from the mouth of the lion, lest the abyss swallow them up, lest they fall into the darkness. Sacrifices and prayers to Thee, O Lord, we offer with praise. O receive them for the souls of those whom today we commemorate. Make them, O Lord, to pass from death to life, as Thou of old hast promised Abraham and his seed. Preface V. World without end. R. Amen V. May the Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. V. Lift up your hearts. R. We have lifted them up to the Lord. V. Let us give thanks to the lord our God. R. It is meet and right to do so. V. It is truly just, right and availing unto salvation, that we should always and in all places give thanks to you, O holy Lord, Father almighty, and everlasting God; through Christ our Lord. Through whom the angels praise your majesty, the dominions worship it, and the powers stand in awe. The heavens and the heavenly hosts with the blessed seraphim join together in celebrating their joy. With these we pray Thee join our voices also, while we say with lowly praise:

7 Sanctus & Benedictus Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Osanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Osanna in excelsis. Agnus Dei I, II & III Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem, requiem sempiternam. Communio Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine, cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es. Requiem aeternam, dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es. Postcommunio Solo: Timothy Campbell V. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. V. Oremus: Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut anima famuli tui, quae hodie de hoc seculo migravit, his sacrificiis purgata, et a peccatis, expedita, indulgentiam pariter et requiem capiat sempiternam. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. V. Requiescat in pace. Sanctus & Benedictus Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts. The heavens and earth are filled with Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Lamb of God Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Grant them rest, rest everlasting. Communion Let light eternal shine on them, O Lord, with Thy saints forever, for Thou art merciful. Rest eternal grant them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them, with Thy saints forever, for Thou art merciful. Postcommunion V. May the Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. V. Let us pray: Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that the soul of thy servant, which hath departed this life, may be purified by this sacrifice, and delivered from sins, may obtain alike pardon and everlasting rest. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. V. Let them rest in peace.

8 Motectum Versa est in luctum cithara mea et organum meum in vocem flentium. Parce mihi, Domini, nihil enim sunt dies mei. Responsorium Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna, in die illa tremenda quando coeli movendi sunt et terra, dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem Versus Tremens factus sum ego, et timeo dum discussio venerit, atque ventura ira. Versus Dies illa, dies irae, calamitatis et miseriae, dies magna et amara valde. Requiem aeternam, dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Responsorium Libera me, Domine eleison. Christe eleison. eleison Motet My harp is tuned to mourning and my organ into the voice of those that weep. Spare me, O Lord, for my days are nothing. Response Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death, on that fearful day when the heavens are moved and the earth when Thou shalt come to judge the world through fire. Verse I am made to tremble, and I fear, when the desolation shall come, and also the coming wrath. Verse That day, the day of wrath, calamity, and misery; that terrible and exceedingly bitter day. Rest eternal grant them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them. Responsorium Deliver me, O Lord Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.