WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

MenoSunday; Life Lived Easy

You may recall, back in August, I gave you Song For Athene, by John Taverner, which I declared would be one of my desert island discs. Bertie and Gail posed the question as to what the other seven would be.  I have included a couple since, which might have made the cut. However, as of today and for the following six weeks, you will find out my final choice. (Of course, this is all providing I get to a desert island and have no option to return. If that doesn't occur within the next...ohh.... 87 weeks? - then all choices are subject to change. Jus' warnin' &*>)

ALL SAINTS DAY

How do I fit my desert island pick into this?  Well, I am generally fond of requiem masses; one of which I am particularly fond is Verdi's. Of all the elements in these masses, without doubt the Dies Irae is the most affecting. The one I would take with me for my eternal collection would be the Verdi. Today, in the first frame, you have the original Gregorian chant and then, you will subsequently hear, in ever decreasing antiquity, the Dies Irae of Bach, Mozart, Verdi, Kreek and Jenkins. For the really keen, the text is given below. (Playing all in the sequence will total approx. 35 mins.) Please enjoy this historical journey of the DI.




1              Dies iræ, dies illa
Solvet sæclum in favilla,
Teste David cum Sibylla.               
Day of wrath and doom impending.
David's word with Sibyl's blending,
Heaven and earth in ashes ending.         

2              Quantus tremor est futurus,
Quando Judex est venturus,
Cuncta stricte discussurus!         
Oh, what fear man's bosom rendeth,
When from heaven the Judge descendeth,
On whose sentence all dependeth.          

3              Tuba mirum spargens sonum,
Per sepulchra regionum,
Coget omnes ante thronum.     
Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth;
Through earth's sepulchres it ringeth;
All before the throne it bringeth.              

4              Mors stupebit et natura,
Cum resurget creatura,
Judicanti responsura.    
Death is struck, and nature quaking,
All creation is awaking,
To its Judge an answer making.

5              Liber scriptus proferetur,
In quo totum continetur,
Unde mundus judicetur.             
Lo, the book, exactly worded,
Wherein all hath been recorded,
Thence shall judgement be awarded.    

6              Judex ergo cum sedebit,
Quidquid latet apparebit:
Nil inultum remanebit. 
When the Judge his seat attaineth,
And each hidden deed arraigneth,
Nothing unavenged remaineth.               

7              Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
Quem patronum rogaturus,
Cum vix justus sit securus?         
What shall I, frail man, be pleading?
Who for me be interceding,
When the just are mercy needing?    
      
8              Rex tremendæ majestatis,
Qui salvandos salvas gratis,
Salva me, fons pietatis.
King of Majesty tremendous,
Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, then befriend us!

9              Recordare, Jesu pie,
Quod sum causa tuæ viæ:
Ne me perdas illa die.   
Think, kind Jesu, my salvation
Caused Thy wondrous Incarnation;
Leave me not to reprobation.    

10           Quærens me, sedisti lassus:
Redemisti Crucem passus:
Tantus labor non sit cassus.        
Faint and weary, Thou hast sought me,
On the Cross of suffering bought me.
Shall such grace be vainly brought me?

11           Juste Judex ultionis,
Donum fac remissionis,
Ante diem rationis.        
Righteous Judge, for sin's pollution
Grant Thy gift of absolution,
Ere the day of retribution.
               
12           Ingemisco, tamquam reus:
Culpa rubet vultus meus:
Supplicanti parce, Deus.
Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
All my shame with anguish owning;
Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning! 

13           Qui Mariam absolvisti,
Et latronem exaudisti,
Mihi quoque spem dedisti.         
Through the sinful woman shriven,
Through the dying thief forgiven,
Thou to me a hope hast given.  

14           Preces meæ non sunt dignæ;
Sed tu bonus fac benigne,
Ne perenni cremer igne.             
Worthless are my prayers and sighing,
Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
Rescue me from fires undying.  
15           Inter oves locum præsta.
Et ab hædis me sequestra,
Statuens in parte dextra.             
With Thy sheep a place provide me,
From the goats afar divide me,
To Thy right hand do Thou guide me.     

16           Confutatis maledictis,
Flammis acribus addictis,
Voca me cum benedictis.            
When the wicked are confounded,
Doomed to flames of woe unbounded,
Call me with Thy saints surrounded.
               
17           Oro supplex et acclinis,
Cor contritum quasi cinis,
Gere curam mei finis.    
Low I kneel, with heart's submission,
See, like ashes, my contrition,
Help me in my last condition.     

18           Lacrimosa dies illa,
Qua resurget ex favilla,
Judicandus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce, Deus:  
Ah! that day of tears and mourning,
From the dust of earth returning
Man for judgement must prepare him,
Spare, O God, in mercy spare him.          

19           Pie Jesu Domine,
Dona eis requiem. Amen.           
Lord, all-pitying, Jesus blest,

Grant them Thine eternal rest. Amen. 

    

2 comments:

  1. We heard it live today at the Abbey of Notre Dame de Timadeuc :o) We couldn't go in, but even from outside it was great somehow to walk through the park with the singing monks in the background :o)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've sung these so many times! I love them. I'm not good in choir groups, now. Just no patience for the drama! Lovely memories!

    ReplyDelete

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