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Be silent.

Lowly herds and flocks hush their bleatings.

Whether you dwell on earth or in Heaven, be silent, silent, silent. from the motet Silentium tenebant

C O N S O R T I U M C A R I S S I M I ―…squisita musica strumentale ed eccellente musica vocale.‖ Pompilio Totti Ritratto di Roma 1638

Epiphany Concert 2010

Exquisite Music for the Season

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Soprano

Maria Jette

Soprano

Emily Rakes

Alto

Lisa Drew

Tenor

Andrew Kane

Bass

Garrick Comeaux

Violins

Marc Levine Ginna Watson

Basso Continuo

Mary Virginia Burke, viola da gamba

Theorbo

Paul Berget

Harpsichord

Tammi Morse

Organ

Donald Livingston

Direction

Garrick Comeaux

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Consortium Carissimi

——— Board Members ——–

Robert Hickcox, President

Beth Nunnally, Treasurer

Cynthia Prosek, Secretary

Bob Hays, At-Large

Consortium Carissimi is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

P.O. Box 40553 Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104

www.consortiumcarissimi.org

Tel. 612.822.1376

——————— Consortium Carissimi - Italia CD Recordings ———————

Mass for Three Voices with Six Motets of Giacomo Carissimi (1605-1764) Naxos Records 8.555075

Ten Motets of Giacomo Carissimi (1605-1764)

Naxos Records 8.555076

Santa Agnese Oratorio Music of Bernardo Pasquini (1637 - 1710) Disques Pierre Verany - Paris PV703051

Dialogue Motets of Cristóbal de Morales

Sanctuary Records - London CD GAU 343

Jephte / Jonas / Dai più riposti abissi Two Oratories and a Serenade of Giacomo Carissimi Naxos Early Music 8.557390

12 Motets of Giacomo Carissimi of G. Tricarico, S. Durante, N. Monferrato, F. Foggia, G. M.

Pagliardi, M. Cazzati, B. Graziani, and G. Carissimi? Disques Pierre Verany - Paris PV 705011

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Gratitude to our donors for helping make this season possible…

Nancy Archer

Lillian Carteng

Laura Carlson

Katherine Cram

Dan Dressen and Elisabeth Comeaux

Lisa Drew

Keith Dunder

Edna Erickson

Bob and Darlene Hays

Robert Hickcox and Jacqueline Henry

Gerald Hoekstra

Jeffrey Holland

Laura Kane

James and Donna May

Beth McGuire

Timothy and Kathy Nelson

Beth and Pat Nunnally

Rick and Sandra Penning

Cynthia Prosek

Larry Reynolds

Dale Talley

Robert and Maureen Vince

U.S. Bancorp

Deluxe Corporation

And a special thanks to ...

Fr. Tom Margevicius, our host at the St. Paul Seminary,

Bill Mathis and Hennepin United Methodist Church for the use of their portative organ,

Peter Hendrickson and Tina Brauer for allowing us to rehearse at Augsburg College,

Elisabeth Comeaux for her organizational skills, time and efforts,

Robert Foy and Chris Brunelle for translation of some very difficult Latin texts , and

Sig. Vittoio Zanon for reconstructing the elusive second violin part to Silentium

Look for future concert programming under our Future Concerts section at our website:

www.consortiumcarissimi.org

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THE PROGRAM

Annuntiate Gentes (SSATB, B.c.)

Giacomo Carissimi (1605-1674) Quasi aquila (T, VV, B.c.)

Giacomo Carissimi Sommo Re delle stelle (S, B.c.) from La Selva Armonica –1617

Giovanni Francesco Anerio (1569-1630) Surgamus, eamus, (ATB,VV, B.c.)

Giacomo Carissimi

*** O del Gran Redentor Madre e bella (SATB, B.c.) from La Selva Armonica –1617

Giovanni Francesco Anerio Gran tesoro de’ mortali (SS, B.c.) from Musiche Sagre e morali op. 25 –1678

Bonifazio Graziani (1604-1664) O Tu che vai per via, (SATB, B.c.) from La Selva Armonica –1617

Giovanni Francesco Anerio Animae amantes (ATB, B.c.)

Maurizio Cazzati

*** Pastores dum custodistis (S, B.c.)

Bonifazio Graziani Silentium tenebant (SST, VV, B.c.)

Giacomo Carissimi Desiderata nobis (ATB, B.c.)

Giacomo Carissimi Hodie Salvator mundi (SSATB, VV, B.c.)

Giacomo Carissimi

St. Mary’s Chapel at the St. Paul Seminary - 2260 Summit Ave, St. Paul, MN Friday, January 8 - 8:00pm

Saturday, January 9 - 8:00pm

Sunday, January 10 - 2:00pm

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C O N S O R T I U M C A R I S S I M I ―…squisita musica strumentale ed eccellente musica vocale.‖ Pompilio Totti Ritratto di Roma 1638

Presentation

Consortium Carissimi was founded in Rome in 1996 with the intent of uncovering and bringing to modern day ears the long forgotten Italian-Roman sacred and secular music of the 16th and especially the 17th century. Among the various types of music that flourished in Rome during the 17th century, the Oratories of Giacomo Carissimi are perhaps examples of the most outstanding form of composition of that time. Consortium Carissimi proudly takes on his name as a means for performance practice in both concerts and recordings, moving ahead in the area of the manuscript transcription and the performances of his little known Motets and Cantatas. Alongside the works of Carissimi, the ensemble also proposes music of his contemporaries, which was often mistaken as music of Carissimi either for the similar style or for its simple, fresh new approach to text, melody and accompaniment. Dedicating much of the research and concert activity to composers like Graziani, Rossi, Pasquini and Sances, Consortium Carissimi assures not only extremely interesting Concert Programming, but provides a clearer picture of the musical fermentation of the Early Roman Baroque. This repertory, wrongly forgotten and heard very little today, even within musicological-performance circles, offers examples of the high level of musical creativity of the time and certainly no less excellent than the European output of the 18th century. Of great importance is the performance of sacred and secular music transcribed from manuscript or early print sources, which come from libraries located all over Europe. This work, which is done by its founder Garrick Comeaux, allows Consortium Carissimi to program World Premier Concerts and Recordings. The musical style, the affects of the texts, the ornamentation and the choice of the figured bass instruments are objects of continuous research. It is however right within these parameters that Consortium Carissimi finds its reason for existence and finds the vital energy necessary for the continuing research and performance practice. The Italian Consortium Carissimi ensemble consists primarily of a small nucleus: three male vocal specialists, Fabio Furnari, tenor; Marco Scavazza, baritone; yours truly as bass singer; Vittorio Zanon, organ and musical direction; Pietro Prosser, theorbo; and Crisitiano Contadin, viola da gamba. This Italian ensemble truly helped build the solid foundation for introducing Consortium Carissimi to North America. Today you will hear a different formation of the stateside ensemble of Consortium Carissimi. Five fine singers, one to a voice part, and exceptional instrumentalists, each adding particular colors of their own. Much of the Carissimi repertory in fact requires more mixed voices and additional instruments. It is our hope to pursue the performance of these larger works of this era with this phenomenal stateside ensemble, as well as to continue musical collaboration with our Italian friends. This year's Epiphany Concert consists in devotional music of four different composers of the Early Italian Baroque. Giovanni Francesco Anerio's Selva Armonica contains twenty-one Italian and six Latin compositions for one to four voices and basso continuo, of which four will be performed. Much music has been attributed to Giacomo Carissimi over the years, but with some investigation, it can be shown that these are in fact works of other composers such as Maurizio Cazzati and Bonifazio Graziani. These wrongly attributed motets are set against several authentic works of Carissimi, such as his truly delightful "Silentium Tenebant" or the monumental ―Hodie Salvator Mundi" which closes with "O Dies Laeta," better known as the counter-reformation's version of ―O Happy Day.‖

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Carissimi’s friend and colleague, Bonifazio Graziani was employed at Il Gesù, a very large

church just down the street from Sant’ Apollinare where Carissimi lived and worked in Rome. The duet Gran tesoro de’ mortali is undoubtedly a good example of Graziani’s genius. Graziani was fortunate to have a brother who was a printer (Carissimi definitely had no such luck), and consequently a great deal of his music was printed. This was printed in the Musiche Sagre e morali op. 25 –1678, fourteen years after his death. Our transcription is from a copy kept in the beautiful Biblioteca Casanatense in Rome. Pastores dum custodistis is found in manuscript at Oxford’s Library of Christ Church College. Richard Goodson the elder appears again to be the scribe for the first part of this collection where he placed no name by any of his Motet transcriptions and consequently all were attributed to Carissimi. This delightful Motet for solo voice comes from Carissimi’s colleague, Bonifazio Graziani, from the same small home town of Marino.

Thanks to the popularity of early Italian baroque music during its innovative period,

northern Europeans that visited or studied in the eternal city would take with them copies of the music they so loved, and Carissimi’s music was no exception. Silentium tenebant is preserved in manuscript form in the Bibliothèque National, Paris. Whether or not this style of composition was common for Carissimi, it is certainly an exceptional, one of a kind piece of music that is available to us today. The word painting and rhythmic colors of the violins along with figured bass ostinato passages, resembling the drone of the zampogna (Italian bagpipes, which one can still hear at Christmas time in Italy) gently place listeners and musicians alike around a manger as a baby soundly sleeps. Hodie Salvator mundi is an incipit to numerous liturgical sources for the Christmas season. The creativity involved in textual manipulation at the Collegio in those days, renders however this incredible motet to be appropriate for Easter.

Again our friends in Uppsala Sweden keep the manuscript copy which is in tablature only. The text in certain sections of the motet remains to be somewhat of an enigma. Our Latinist, Robert Foy, has done a magnificent job in discerning the misspelled words and incorrect grammar, but a couple of cases have proven to be real grattacapi (head-scratchers). In these few instances we have simply reproduced what was on the manuscript, leaving the uncertainty within brackets.

Consortium Carissimi was honored to be asked to sing for the 450th Anniversary of the Jesuit

Gregorian University in Rome in 2001. We had an attentive audience of biblical scholars, professors of dogmatic theology, philosophers, religious and students from all over the world. As we closed the concert with Hodie salvator mundi, we were asked to sing the O dies laeta (O happy day) again and again. What a wonderful thing to hear the audience singing this refrain as we all left the chapel that day. We have chosen to close this Christmas concert with this motet in the hopes you might take it with you on your way home.

Garrick Comeaux

Artistic Director

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The Motet Annuntiate gentes comes from an anthology published in Rome in 1675. Carissimi was fortunate to have this motet and nine others placed among these Sacri conerti musicali a due, tre, quattro e conque voci. Our transcription comes from a doctoral dissertation written by Andrew Jones, whose source is the Library of Christ Church College, Oxford.

The Christmas text in Quasi aquila is a good example of the creativity of counter-reformation authors. Whether the actual author is a Jesuit priest of the Collegio Germanico or is Carissimi himself, is at present impossible to say. The text is a poetical reconstruction of biblical passages taken from Deuteronomy 32,11 sicut aquila provocans ad volandum pullos suos et super eos volitans expandit alas suas et adsumpsit eum atque portavit in umeris suis; Psalm 19(18) 6 in sole posuit tabernaculum suum et ipse tamquam sponsus procedens de thalamo suo exultavit ut gigans ad currendam viam suam; Wisdom 11,23 Quoniam tamquam momentum staterae sic ante te est orbis terrarum et tamquam gutta roris antelucani quae descendit in terram and from liturgical sections in the Responsorio 3 In Nativitate Domini, Quem vidistis, pastores? dicite, annuntiate nobis, in terris quis apparuit? The source is Arion Romanus sive Liber primus sacrarum cantionem I-V vocibus vel instrumentis concidenarum. (Kostanz: D. Hautt, jun., 1670) reproduced with the kind permission of the Zentralbibliotek, Zürich, Switzerland.

A good friend of mine recently transcribed an entire collection of Giovanni Francesco

Anerio’s Selva armonica which contains twenty-one Italian and six compositions for one to four voices and basso continuo. Daniele Filippi asked me to program the Selva, and I have chosen four pieces for this occasion. This devotional music was a product of the post-Tridentine Italy in which the Oratorio of Filippo Neri used the well-known medieval Laude texts for much of these compositions. Many texts were however newly composed Laude by Agostino Manni, whose poetry was considered to be some of the best that came out of the Congregazione dell’Oratorio. Anerio’s setting of Sommo Re delle stelle is in fact a Manni text in praise of the Incarnation and gratitude for the humble Birth. It should be remembered that it was Manni that consigned his text of Rappresentazione dell Anima et Corpo to Emilio Cavalieri. The other pieces from the Selve armonica you will hear tonight are Manni’s texts as well, O del Gran Redentor Madre e bella, and Salve regina, Madre Divina. O Tu che vai per via is not the work of Manni, but its dialogue-structure between the human Soul, Death and Life is a common element to this counter-reformation period of devotional music.

Three Motets in this concert program are set for three voices (Alto, Tenor and Bass).

Surgamus, eamus, (Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris Vm1. 1174, no. 2; Vm1.1267, no.11) is in praise of the Blessed Virgin and makes use of two obbligato violins. Desiderata nobis (Universitetsbiblioteket, Uppsala Sweden Vok.mus i hdskr. Caps 11, 7; Caps 53.10/26) is a one of my favorite Christmas texts:

On Earth all men are of goodwill while in heaven is sung the joyous peace, for you little boy, glory of heaven and the joy of the world, were born today.

For a number of reasons, many Motets and Oratories were wrongly attributed to Giacomo Carissimi, and the Motet Animae amantes is no exception. It really belongs to the Bolognese composer, Maurizio Cazzati.

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Program Notes and Latin Text Translations

Annuntiate Gentes

Annuntiate gentes, annuntiate populi gloriam Domini. O quam dulcis est Deus noster, O quam suavis.

In Dominus salus mea semper est, et non confundar. Memorate omnes, quoniam excelsus est nomen eius. Memorate omnes quoniam in caelis est Deus noster.

Omnes, omnes adorate Dominum, quoniam excelsus est et in caelo sedes eius. Quid confidistis in potentia?

Fortitudo nostra Deus noster est. Quid delectamini in deliciis?

Consolatio nostra Deus noster est. In Domino spes nostra semper, semper collaetabimur;

In Domino cor nostrum semper delectabimur; semper gloriabimur. Quoniam fortitudo nostra, Deus noster est.

Consolatio nostra Deus noster est. Exultatio nostra Deus noster est.

Tell all you nations, the glory of God, people make it known.

O how good is our God. O how sweet. My safety is always in God. I will never be disgraced.

Remember all of you, that His name is above all names. Be mindful of God who is in heaven.

All people will adore God, who is above all and is seated in the heavens. In whose power do we trust? Our strength is in our God.

In whose sweetness do we delight? Our consolation is in our God.

Our hope is always in God, we will always rejoice. Our hearts delights in God, we will always glorify.

For our strength is our God. Our peace is our God.

Our exultation is our God.

Quasi aquila

Quasi aquila provocans ad volandum et sicut gigas Salvator noster exultavit ad curendam viam;

desummo egressus caelo descendit tanquam imber, et sicut stillae roris super terram.

Non in purpura, non in folio foeno tectus, Rex pacificus regnat in praesepio.

In humili caula Salvator est natus cui caelum est aula, qui nobis est datus.

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Like an eagle compelled to take flight and just like an athlete, Our Savior rejoiced to run his race;

So, having issued from Heaven like the rain or drops of dew, he came down to the earth.

Clad in no purple, upon no throne, the King of Peace reigns in a manger.

In a humble stable was born the Savior who was given for us, whose palace is Heaven.

Si parvus in annis, si vilis in pannis, est magnus in caelis, pretiosus in stellis.

Accurunt custodes gregis et admirantur diffusam gratiam in suis labris.

O speciose forma, O venustissime puer.

Pastores, dicite, puer quem vidistis, quam pulcher est dicite.

Voces quas audistis quam dulces sunt dicite.

Puer quem vidistis, quam pulcher est dicite, annuntiate et cantate, Noe, noe, noe!

If little in years, if miserable in rags, he is great in the heavens, precious among the stars.

The shepherds hurry and wonder at the grace suffused on his lips.

Oh what a splendid body, O what a good-looking boy!

Shepherds, tell us: the boy you saw, tell us how lovely he is.

The voices you heard, tell us how sweet they are.

The boy you saw, how lovely he is, tell us: announce it and sing ―Noel, Noel, Noel.‖

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Hodie Salvator mundi destruxit vincula mortis et ab inferis victor ascendens,

elevavit portas aeternales ut acciperent fideles omnes de plenitudine divinitatis.

Gaude, tellus, et exulta in pletura sortium, redemptorem habet culpa, caeli patet ostium.

Celsa fides, cohors Christi, celsa pectoris in gutta, ac triumpha quae vidisti serenate maesto vultu.

Today the world’s Savior has destroyed death’s bonds and, ascending from Hell a victor,

has opened the gates eternal, that all the faithful may receive the fullness of the Godhead.

Rejoice, Earth, and exult in the fulfillment of the prophecies.

Our sin has a redeemer; the gate of Heaven lies open.

Company of Christ, your faith is exalted in the heart’s exalted teardrop, and triumph,

you who have seen him calmly with sorrowful face.

Triumphate nunc, fideles gratiarum filii, triumphate, o fideles sanctitatis socii.

Animatum corpus illud, lachrymantes filiae, iam surrexit, vos post illum Galilaeam pergite.

Vale horror inferorum, iam scandendum ad serena, vale dolorosum pomum, iam migrandum Adam malum.

Nullae turbant iam furentis Acherontis minae truces, ivit Styge refulgentis gloriosus crucis stipes.

Triumph now, faithful sons of grace, triumph, o faithful comrades of holiness.

His revived body, weeping daughters, has now risen; follow him to Galilee.

Farewell, horror of Hell, now we must rise to the regions of calm; farewell, deceitful fruit,

now the apple of Adam must depart.

Now, no harsh threats of raging Acheron disturb us; now the glorious wood of the shining cross

has departed from the Styx.

Age Mater de ploratis os recurrit gaudii, nunc mirare suscitati iubar mirum filii.

Nunc bellator manu fausta tollit plausi et gravi, tria pandit coeli claustra. Gaude laudis melodia.

Mother, come; from sorrow returns the face of joy; now behold the wondrous light of your risen Son.

Now the warrior with his propitious and mighty hand raises and opens the three gates of joyous heaven. Rejoice in a song of praise.

Tristes diu sunt immunes, Christo dicant gloriam; Nati sedes triumphales concinant victoriam.

Ite luctus, ite fletus; erum nostis; mortis metus cadunt jubilo. Sexus omnis plaudat coeli hoc paschali gaudio.

Those who long were sad are now free; let them give glory to Christ.

Let the regions of triumph join in singing the victory of the Son.

Depart lamentation, depart, weeping; you know your master; the fears of death fall in jubilation.

Let men and women applaud this heavenly Paschal joy.

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Desiderata nobis

Desiderata nobis et universa optabilis mundo natalis adest Salvatoris dies. Gaudeat ergo turba fidelium dum Deo gloriam pacem hominibus concinunt Angeli,

dum ad praesepium pastores properant ut natum videant auctorum saeculi. Iam curite pastores, curite, natus est hodie caelorum Rex.

Annunciant laetantes Angeli quoniam saeculi est astra lux. Et rutilet nascentis pueri vultus splendidior quam clara fax.

O pupule, O natus Virginis germen amabile, quam pulcher est. Congaudeant in terris homines dum caelo canitur iucunda pax.

Cum nasceris tu caeli gloria orbis delicia tu puer es. Diffugiunt horrentes tenebrae sole serenior est astra nos.

Nunc agite caelestes spiritus plaudite puero qui natus est. Noè, Noè.

Our desire and awaited by the whole world, we now near the day of the Saviour’s Birth. Rejoice then you hosts of the Faithful, while the Angels celebrate the peace among men and the glory

of God, while the shepherds near the manger to see the birth of the author of all time. Run then you shepherds, run! Today the King of heaven is born. The Angels festively announce the arrival of the Light of all time.

More splendid than a bright torch, shines the face of the new born boy. O little one, o sweet one, born of a Virgin, o how lovely.

On Earth all men are of goodwill while in heaven is sung the joyous peace, for you little boy, glory of heaven and the joy of the world, were born today.

The horrible darkness is dispersed, more serene than the sun is our star. Now, move on, o Celestial spirits and applaud the young boy which is born today. Noel!

Hodie Salvator mundi

Hodie Salvator mundi, post crucis tormentum imposuit finem doloribus nostris.

Tu ergo Jerusalem, carpe lauros, carpe flores, texe Christo lauretum; triumphanti da honores,

concine victoriam, diem faustam tolle voce ad coelestem regiam.

Today the world’s Savior, after the torment of the cross, has put an end to our sorrows.

Therefore, Jerusalem, gather laurel boughs, gather flowers, braid a laurel crown for Christ, heap honor on the victor, proclaim his triumph, with your voice exalt the happy day to the heavenly realm.

O dies laeta, o lux amata, o dies fausta, o lux optata, o felix dies, o lux beata.

Haec dies quam fecit Dominus, exultemus et laetemur in ea!

O day wonderful, a light beloved, a day fortunate, o light desired, o happy day, a light blest.

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

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Sommo re delle, Qual gran pietà ti strinse,

Qual amor ti sospinse A venir giù dal cielo,

Prender di carne il velo E succhiar le mammelle

De la beata Tua genetrice amata? O vita, o mio ristoro,

O speme del mio cor, t’amo e t’adoro, T’adoro e benedico Inni e laudi ti dico, Unigenito Figlio,

Che fai tremar col ciglio ogni superbo. Tuse i del Padre il Verbo

E a la sua destra sedi E calchi il ciel coi piedi.

A te mi volgo, riverente e prono: Ti dimando perdono

E del tuo amor stupendo Grazie eterne ti rendo.

Divine King of stars, what a great compassion seized you,

what love pushed you to come down from heaven,

to enter into flesh and to suck the breast

of your beloved Mother!

My life, my comfort, Hope of my heart, I love and worship you,

I adore and bless you, I sing hymns and praise to you,

only Begotten Son, whose eyes make tremble all the haughty.

Your are the Word of the Father, And sit on his right;

The sky is under your feet. To you I turn reverent and prone,

I ask your forgiveness And give eternal thanks to you

for your wonderful love.

Sommo Re delle stelle Surgamus, eamus Surgamus, eamus, propremus, adoreolam aromatum.

Quaeramus cum dilecto sponsam virginum pulcherium. Ubi cubat flores, ubi pascitur inter lilia, donec aspiret dies et inclinatur umbra.

Eamus, eamus dideamus diliciis affluentem sponsam formosam speciosam, candidam et decoram,

velut roseam aurorum velut solem confulgentem. Tota pulchra tota desiderabilis et macula non est in ea. Oculi ejus sicut columba comae ejus ex auro purissimo, gena illius sicut purpura, favus distillans labia mea,

manus illius candida plena hyacintis sinus ejus eburneus distinctis zaphiris, viderunt et dilexerunt eam filia Sion.

Laudaverunt et beatissimam praedicaverunt. Let us rise, let us go and let us hurry to the sweet smelling halo of perfume.

With joy, let us ask in marriage the most beautiful among the virgins. She lays among the flowers, she plays between the lilies until the day ends and the shadows appear.

Let us go and spread the name of the bride, the giver of delights. Beautiful, splendid, candid and majestic.

Like the aurora, like the resplendent sun, fair in every part, my true love, no fault in all your fashioning.

Her eyes are like dove’s, her hair of purest gold, her candid hands are full of hyacinths and her breasts are adorned with sapphires, they saw the daughter of Zion,

they praised and celebrated the most blessed.

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O del Gran Redentor Madre e bella

Gran tesoro de’ mortali

O del gran Redentor Madre alma e bella

Porta del ciel lucente, O del mar fiero avventurosa stella,

Con la virtù divina Della tua man potente

Soccorri alla ruina Della smarita gente,

Che cade e mercé grida E solo in te si fida.

Tu che nel fior primiero Del sopran messaggero

Felie udisti quella Dolce salute, amata verginella,

E più d’ogni altra pura, Con stupor di natura,

Vergine innanzi al sacro parto e poi, Hai generato a noi

Il Verbo sempiterno, Signor del ciel superno: Abbraccia i peccatori Coi tuoi beati amori.

Nobel and beautiful Mother of the great Redeemer,

shining portal of the sky, fortunate star of the wild sea,

by the divine virtue of your mighty hand,

help the ruined and lost people

who, sinking call for aid and trust only you;

you, who heard in your youth the sweet news of our salvation

brought by the celestial messenger, you, beloved Virgin,

most pure among women. To the wonderment of nature,

Virgin before the sacred birth and after, For us you begot

the everlasting Word, the supernal Lord of heaven.

Embrace the sinners With your blessed love!

Gran tesoro de mortali, chi ti diè povere spoglie

dov'è il foco e chi t'accoglie s'amor sei, dove, dove son l'ali, Caro amor, più caro amante,

ben intendo i modi tuoi trionfar del mondo vuoi fulminato, e fulminante. Di mie colpe affatto reo fulminato amor ti stai, ma dagl'occhi i vivi rai ogni cor è tuo trofeo.

Mentre intanto ardi e agghiacci, due nature in un sol nodo,

raro si ma vero modo stringi e sciogli al mondo i lacci.

O great treasure of all mortals, who gave you such a poor abode, where is the fire,

and who welcomes you if you are love, where are the wings

Dear love, most dear lover, well I understand your ways, you desire to win the world,

struck and striking. Of my sins I am convicted,

love, struck you are, but rays from your eyes,

take every heart as a trophy. While you, burning and freezing,

two natures in one knot, rare yes, but in true fashion,

you tighten and loosen the snares of the world.

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Silentium tenebant

Silentium tenebant omnia, et atra nocte circumfusa tellus gelidum sentiebat algorem,

dum noctis silentium, inter choros angelorum, virginea vox temperebat dicens, temperebat dicens, laborum dulce levamen, grate puelle veni, veni, lingue Palatium ad hanc aerumnam, qui es confugium.

All things kept silence, and by dark night surrounded, the Earth knew frigid cold,

while, in the midst of choirs of angels, the voice of the Virgin broke the night’s silence, saying,

―Some sweet relief from my labor, gracious little boy; come, come,

leave your palace for this hardship, you who are my refuge.‖

Divini infantuli oculos madidos et membra lapsula absterge refove, somne; veni, veni.

Hic est, hic est. Qui prodiens, e patris aeterni sinu, plaude coeli somnos, ibi deposuit, ut suis vigiliis dulce nobis ostium compararet.

Sleep, wipe the eyes of the divine infant and refresh his exhausted limbs; come, come.

He is here, he is here! Celebrate the one who proceeding from the lap of the Father Eternal,

left the slumbers of Heaven behind,

that by his wakefulness, he might prepare a sweet access for us.

Sed, blandae pupullae, matris deliciae, mi carae, dormi, dormi, dormi pupullae, dormi blandulae, dormi tenellulae. Dormi, dormi, dormi, tu caeli gaudium, tu matri corculum.

But, darling pupils of the eye, dear to the mother, dear to me, sleep now, sleep, sleep.

Little Lad’s pupils, sleep, little darlings, sleep, tender ones.

Sleep on, sleep on, sleep on, joy of Heaven, your mother’s dear heart.

Adiuro vos, adiuro, o aeterni gens, o caeliculae, ne suscipetis neque evigilare faciatis dilectum, quoad usque ipse velit.

I beg you, I beg, O Folk of Eternity, O Dwellers in Heaven, do not pick up the precious one or offer to wake him until he wills it himself.

Silete Pecudes et oves humiles balatus comprimunt. Quique terriginae quique caeliculae, silete, silete, silete.

Be silent. Lowly herds and flocks hush their bleatings.

Whether you dwell on earth or in Heaven, be silent, silent, silent.

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Listen to this superior being wail in the stables as the Imperial palaces feast and make merry. He who reigns amid the stars whimpers quietly.

Well then O mortal, run quickly to the cradle of Eternal life and modulate your voices in this fashion.

O shining child of the Sun, favourite of the clouds of the sky, O figure of light, sweetest milk of any kind, render my heart the purest of all hearts.

Corals which transpire honey, that exude dew drops. These are my lips. Here in the cold night a flock of graces passes the night. Here lies love, the King of Heaven.

As the wounded Hart takes to the highest mountain tops, continuously in search for the brooklets of the fonts,

so I, who have been wounded, search for you. The King of Heaven has brought us into his sanctuary,

let us bring Him new fruits as well as the old. We rejoice in you O little boy and in joyous rhythm we sing Noel!

9

O Tu che vai per via (Dialogo tra l’Anima, Morte e Vita)

O tu che vai per via, Dimmi per cortesia;

Chi sei? Chi cercar tenti Con tanti tuoi spaventi

Son Morte.

Or che vuoi, dì?

Tua vita

Eccola qui.

Oggi non la vogl’io.

Pigliala a tuo desio:

Già fatto ho provisione.

Dove?

Del cielo.

E chi ci hai tu?

La Madre di Gesù.

E per qual merto l’hai?

You, going along the way, Please, tell me: who are you? Whom are you looking for with such frightful action?

I am Death.

Tell me: what do you want?

I want your life.

Here you are.

Today I don’t want it.

Take it, if you like;

I have already provided for myself.

Where?

In heaven.

And who is there to help you?

The Mother of Jesus.

And by which merit?

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Coro

Vita

Ho sol lodato i rai Di sua eccelenza e poi Servito a i voler suoi.

Ma tu, ch’ognor mi chiami, Altro da me brami? Il fin della tua vita.

Il fin della mia vita? Ottenerlo non puoi.

Ed a chi darla vuoi?

A quel ch’é vita eterna Di gloria sempiterna. Non é commun editto

Ch’ognun da me sia afflitto?

Sì, ma non sempre a un modo.

Che sento, vedo ed odo? Morte, non ha condegno Quest’alma del tuo regno E, perché Dio m’aditta Ch’io venga a darla vita,

Meco essergli consorte Sin a del ciel le porte.

Da poi che so’ interdetta, Faccia quel fin ch’aspetta:

Teco al celeste coro Vuo’ recondurla.

Moro!

Vieni, anima beata, Colombella d’amore, Vien, che sei esaltata Dall’eterno Signore.

I only praised her bright excellence

and then served under her will. But you, calling on me every now and then,

what else do you want from me? The end of your life.

The end of my life you cannot obtain.

And to whom will you give it?

To whom is eternal life

in everlasting glory. Is it not a common law

that everybody should be afflicted by me?

Yes, but not always in the same way.

What do I hear and see? Death, this soul does not deserve

to enter your reign, and since God has entrusted me

to come and give it life,

come and escort him with me up to the doors of heaven.

Since I am deprived of my rights,

let it have the fate it deserves. I will bring it with you to the heavenly choir.

I die!

Come blessed soul, little dove of love

come, now that you are exalted by the eternal Lord!

11

Animae amantes

Pastores dum custodistis

Pastores, pastores dum custodistis vigilias noctis super gregem vestum inuenistis æterni agni natalia hic quem cenitis pannis involutem et reclinarum in praesepio si nescitis Deus, Deus est.

Dulce nectar animarum et medulla gratiarum est hic pupulus mundi pax, pii pecorum magistri angelorum administri vos adurat hæc caeli fax.

Hic quem cernitis tremendem in paleis delicatulum caeli pupulum, si nescitis hic Deus, hic Deus est. Pastores audite, audite quam dulcis deplorat quem mater adorat rex pacis et vitæ.

Dum supernum castris in stabulo gemit et humilis fremit qui regnat in astris. Hic ergo veloces adeste mortalis ad cunas vitales has ducite voces.

O fulgide solis, o cellulis blandite nebulis o frontis lux, dulcissimum genarum lac, cor candidissimum tu mihi fac. Corallia melle liquentia rore nitentia haec labra sunt, hic exubat gratiarum grex, hic amor incubat caelorum Rex.

Qualis cervus vulneratus per a prica jugamontium statim querit undas fontium, talis ergo sauciatus disquiro, disquiro te.

Introduxit nos cælis Rex in cellaria sua omnia poma nova et vetera portemus, portemus illis. Lætamur in te o puer, puer celestis et modulis festis cantamus, cantamus noè !

O shepherds, as you vigil over your flocks at night, be aware that an immortal lamb has just been born.

The one you find lying in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes, if you didn’t know, this is God.

Sweet nectar of the soul’s and supreme grace, this little baby is the peace of the world. Compassionate leaders of flocks, ministers of the angels,

this thunderbolt from the sky has dazzled you. The one you find trembling in the hay, a delicate boy from Heaven,

if you didn’t know, this is God. Shepherds listen as He sweetly cries, this King of peace and life, whom the mother adores.

Animæ amantes, venite ad Epulas, venite, venite! Cælitum conditor, dæmonum domitor, gloriæ ianitor,

vos invitat, vos propinat, vos, venite ad Epulas. O mensam puram salutarem sacram sanctam singularem,

non maiorem neque parem, vidit para-disus. Ergo omnes, ergo cuncti, venite ad Epulas, alleluia, alleluia!

O souls that love, run to the Banquet, run!

The creator of the Heavens, the conqueror of the demons, the depositary of glory, invites you, invites you to drink, run to the Banquet!

O uncontaminated table, font of salvation, sacred holy and one of a kind, neither greater or equal has Paradise ever seen.

Therefore all, all of you, run to the Banquet, alleluia!