CELEBRATION FOR A RENAISSANCE POPE
A glorious presentation of pan-European music as might have been sung on the coronation anniversary of various pontiffs throughout the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries.
Notes on Tonight’s Program – by Nathan Jeffrey
Rather than being a strict recreation of a specific historical event, tonight’s program is built around a central theme. While the music comes from a variety of regions in Europe and England, it shares the same theme – the Coronation of a Pope.
The centrepiece of the program is John Taverner’s Missa Corona Spinea. Its soaring soprano lines and dense harmony make for one of the most sublime Masses ever written. The lack of a Kyrie Eleison may seem peculiar to the modern eye, but since this Mass was written for the Sarum rite, the Kyrie was often sung with tropes. Taverner’s Kyrie Le Roy is often inserted for this purpose, but we have elected to sing a troped Kyrie tonight to more accurately present what may have been done at the time this Mass was composed. The Missa Corona Spinea does not have a set cantus firmus based on a well known tune or chant, but rather, each line, while maintaining its melodic similarity, differs in subtle ways. This allows the composer much more freedom to compose each line as he sees fit. The lines weave together both contrapuntally and thematically, echoing the mystical beauty of the Crown of Thorns.
Two settings of the responsory Tu Es Petrus are presented: one by Palestrina, and one by Victoria, two of the most renowned renaissance composers still performed in the modern sacred choral repertoire. The two composers were contemporaries, and while the exact dates of composition are unclear, Palestrina’s setting likely pre-dates Victoria’s by a few years. The magnificence of the music is surpassed only by the power of the text from Matthew’s Gospel: “The gates of Hell shall not prevail against you I will give you the keys of Heaven” leaves no uncertainty as to the awesome power and responsibility conferred upon the first Bishop of Rome.
Palestrina’s setting which opens the performance is characterized by its recurring strong declamations of “Claves Regni”, as well as its back-and-forth playfulness between the upper and lower voices acclaiming the same text, perhaps representing the Petrine office having two elements – human and heavenly. Victoria’s setting is similar in its two-part structure and use of antiphonal exhanges between the voices, along with certain passages like the ascending scales passed between the parts on “coelorum” symbolizing the ascent to Heaven. We know that Victoria was aware of Palestrina’s music, and some have speculated that these are little “nods” from one master to another hidden in the music.
Thomas Tallis’ sublime setting of O Nata Lux is most frequently associated with the Transfiguration. Tonight, its inclusion may be thought of as perhaps a reminder that the Pope must imitate (in his personal holiness and governance of the Catholic Church), the light of Jesus Christ at the Transfiguration, and the light to lead the members of the church to their salvation.
Representing the Franco-Flemish school of composition is Josquin des Prez’ beautiful Marian anthem, Ave Maria, Virgo Serena. It does not use the traditional text of the Hail Mary, but serves rather as a sort of litany to the Virgin Mary. Since Marian devotion has historically been of great importance in the Catholic tradition, its inclusion is a feast such as this would not have been out of place in a Papal Coronation Mass. Likewise, William Byrd’s Ave Verum is a very easy inclusion in any program with a Eucharistic focus, here filling the role of communion motet. However, the motet’s position in the concert order is unusual this evening, being placed between the Benedictus and the Agnus Dei. This has been done merely to give the sopranos a bit of a breather from the consistently high tessitura of the Taverner Mass.
The program closes with the responsory Ecce Sacerdos Magnus by Hassler, which is used at the reception of a Bishop. Since the Bishop of Rome is the supreme Bishop of the entire Catholic Church, this text is particularly fitting.
Tu es Petrus Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram, aedificabo Ecclesian meam, et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam: et tibi dabo claves regni coelorum.
Quodcumque ligaveris super terram, erit ligatum et in coelis, et quodcumque solveris super terram, erit solutum et in coelis.
You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against you: and I will give you the keys of Heaven.
Whatsoever you bind on earth, will be bound also in Heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.
Kyrie fons bonitatis Anon.
Kyrie, fons bonitatis, Pater ingenite a quo bona cuncta procedunt, eleison.
Kyrie, qui pati natum mundi pro crimine, ipsum ut salvaret, misisti, eleison.
Kyrie, qui septiformis dans dona pneumatis, a quo cælum, terra replentur, eleison.
Christe, unice Dei Patris genite, quem de Virgine nasciturum mundo mirifice sancti praedixerunt prophetæ, eleison.
Christe hagie, cæli compos regiæ, melos gloriæ cui semper adstans pro numine angelorum decantat apex, eleison.
Christe cælitus, adsis nostris precibus, pronis mentibus quem in terris devote colimus, ad te pie Iesu clamamus, eleison.
Kyrie, spiritus alme, cohærens Patri natoque, unius usiæ consistendo, flans ab utroque, eleison.
Kyrie, qui baptizato in Iordanis unda Christo, effulgens specie columbina apparuisti, eleison.
Kyrie, ignis divine, pectora nostra succende, ut digni pariter proclamare possimus semper, eleison.
Lord, O Father, font of goodness, from whom all good things flow, have mercy.
Lord, who has sent himself, on account of the sins of the world, to suffer birth that he might save us, have mercy.
Lord, giving sevenfold gifts of the spirit by which heaven and earth are replenished, have mercy.
Christ, only-begotten Son of the Father, of whom it was foretold by the holy prophets that he would be miraculously born of a virgin into the world, have mercy.
Christ, master of the celestial kingdom for whom, by his command, a choir of angels sings an eternal song of glory from the roof of heaven, have mercy.
Christ, let us cry unto thee holy Jesus, whom on earth we devoutly worship, that you might, from heaven, assess the entreaties of our inclined minds, have mercy.
Lord, the nurturing Holy Spirit, combined in one essence with Father and Son, from each of whom sustenance flows, have mercy.
Lord, who, when Christ had been baptized in the waters of Jordan, appeared shining in the form of a dove, have mercy.
Lord, divine fire, inflame our hearts that we may always be equally worthy to bear witness, have mercy.
Gloria, Missa Corona Spinea John Taverner
Gloria in excelsis Deo. Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te. Benedicimus te. Adoramus te. Glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam.
Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram.
Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis. Quoniam tu solus Sanctus. Tu solus Dominus. Tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe. Cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris.
Amen.
Glory be to God on high and in earth peace, goodwill towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee, for thy great glory
O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father,have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
O Nata Lux de Lumine Thomas Tallis
O nata lux de lumine, Jesu redemptor saeculi, Dignare Clemens supplicum Laudes preces que sumere.
Qui carne quondam contegi Dignatus es properditis. Nos membra confer effici, Tui beati corporis.
O Light born of Light, Jesus, redeemer of the world, with loving-kindness deign to receive suppliant praise and prayer.
Thou who once deigned to be clothed in flesh for the sake of the lost, grant us to be members of thy blessed body.
Credo, Missa Corona Spinea John Taverner
Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium, et invisibilium. Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum. Et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, Lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero. Genitum, non factum, consubstantialem Patri: per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine: Et homo factus est. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis: sub Pontio Pilato passus, et sepultus est. Et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas. Et ascendit in caelum: sedet ad dexteram Patris. Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, judicare vivos et mortuos: (cuius regni non erit finis. Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum, et vivificantem: qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur, et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per Prophetas. Et unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum). Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum. Et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.
I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God; Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God; Begotten, not made; Being of one substance with the Father; By whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man: And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried: And the third day lie rose again according to the Scriptures: And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father: And he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom, shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the Prophets: And I believe one Catholic and Apostolic Church: I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins: And I look for the Resurrection of the dead: And the Life of the world to come. Amen.
(Text in italics was omitted from Taverner’s composition, as was done according to local custom at the time)
Intermission
Ave Maria Josquin des Prez
| Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, virgo serena. Ave cujus conceptio, Solemni plena gaudio, Coelestia, terrestria, Nova replete laetitia. Ave, cujus nativitas, Nostra fuit solemnitas, Ut lucifer lux oriens, Verum solem praeveniens. Ave, pia humilitas, Sine viro fecunditas, Cuius annunciatio, Nostra fuit salvatio. Ave, vera virginitas, Immaculata castitas, Cuius purificatio Nostra fuit purgatio. Ave praeclara omnibus, Angelicis virtutibus, Cujus fuit assumptio Nostra glorificatio. O Mater Dei, memento mei. Amen. |
Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with you, gentle Virgin. Hail, whose conception, Full of solemn joy Fills the heaven, the earth, with new rejoicing. Hail, thou whose birth Was our festival As our luminous rising light, Coming before the true sun. Hail, pious humility, Fertility without a man, Whose annunciation, Was our salvation. Hail, true virginity, Unspotted chastity, Whose purification Was our cleansing. Hail, famous with all, Angelic virtues, Whose assumption Was our glorification. O Mother of God, Remember me. Amen. |
Sanctus, Missa Corona Spinea John Taverner
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus
Dominus Deus sabbaoth
Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua
Hosanna in excelsis
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini
Hosanna in excelsis
Holy, holy, holy
Lord God of Hosts
Heaven and earth are full of your glory
Hosanna in the highest
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest
Ave Verum Corpus William Byrd
Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine, vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine; cuius latus perforatumunda fluxit sanguine: esto nobis prægustatum in mortis examine.
O dulcis, O pie, O Jesu, fili Mariae.
Miserere mei. Amen.
Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary, having truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for mankind, from whose pierced side blood flowed: Be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet] in the trial of death!
O sweet, O holy, O Jesus, son of Mary,
Have mercy on me. Amen.
Agnus Dei, Missa Corona Spinea John Taverner
| Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem. |
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace. |
Communion Chant
Tu es Petrus Victoria
Ecce Sacerdos Magnus Hans Leo Hassler
Ecce sacerdos magnus, qui in diebus suis placuit Deo.
Ideo jurejurando fecit illum Dominus crescere in plebem suam.
Benedictionem omnium gentium dedit illi et testamentum suum confirmavit super caput ejus.
Gloria Patri et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto: Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
Behold a great priest, who in his days pleased God.
Therefore, by an oath, the Lord made him increase among his people.
He gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his covenant upon his head.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The Tallis Choir is:
Sopranos
Margaret Allen, Anne Biringer, Elizabeth Cowling, Kirsten Fielding*, Iona Lister, Jane McKinney, Teresa Mahon*, Katharine Pimenoff, Ana Luisa Santo, Rebecca Vogan, Audrey Winch
Altos
Christine Davidson, Rohan D’Souza, Bev Jahnke, Peter Koniers*, Tara Nadal, Elaine Robertson*
Tenors
Dan Donnelly, Curtis Eisenberg, Charles Im, Nathan Jeffery*, Michael Johnston*
Baritones and Basses
Andreas Allgeier, Jean-Paul Feo, Raphael Redmond Fernandes, Felipe Gasper*, Herbert Lemcke, David Martin, Sean Nix*
*concert soloist
Rehearsal Accompanist
Nathan Jeffery
Artistic Director
Peter Mahon
Thank you for joining us tonight.
Conditions permitting, we look forward to returning with a full season of 4 concerts beginning in October 2022.
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