Music for a Time of Plague
A reflection of the human condition in the face of mortality and suffering
Notes on Tonight’s Program – by Peter Mahon
The Black Death, otherwise known as the Bubonic Plague of the mid-fourteenth century is said to have wiped out two thirds of the population of Europe. It prompted Pope Clement VI to institute the Missa Pro Vitanda Mortalitate or Mass For The Avoidance of Sudden Death, sometimes known as a Mass in Time of Pestilence. It is what is known as a Votive Mass, or Mass for a specific intention, containing readings and prayers related to that intention.
The first half of tonight’s concert features the Introit, Recordare Domine by William Byrd and the Gradual Misit Dominus set to Gregorian chant, from the propers of that specific Votive Mass, as well as the Missa Cantate by John Sheppard, set for six voices (SATTBB). It has no identifiable theme, nor was it written for any specific feast. It is nevertheless, Sheppard’s finest setting of the mass cycle with a soaring soprano line contrasting with the lower voices, combining in a rich harmonic texture. It is considered the one of the finest mass cycles written during the reign of Queen Mary Tudor.
The second half opens with a chant setting of the 15th century hymn, Stella Caeli Extirpavit, which petitions the aid of the Blessed Virgin Mary to pray to her Son in order to save the faithful from the plague and a terrible, ulcerous death.
The other major work on the programme tonight is Media Vita, also composed by John Sheppard and considered his finest work. It is thought that he was inspired to write it as an expression of profound grief upon the death of a close friend and colleague who died in the influenza pandemic that struck England in 1557. It is written in the form of an antiphon for the Nunc Dimittis, sung at the office of Compline and includes words from the funeral rites of the Church (In the midst of life, we are in death…) as well as the words of the ancient hymn, the Trisagion, which are repeated several times in the piece (Sancte Deus, Sancte Fortis…) Today this text is most often heard during the ceremony of the Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday.
Sheppard’s harmonies pushed the boundaries of the conventions of the day and when heard today, some of his false relations just sound like wrong notes. However, one commentator said that singers should believe their eyes, not their ears. Listeners will just have to take our word.
Sheppard died in 1558, a victim of the second wave of the same influenza epidemic that killed his friend and that also claimed one in ten people in London, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and probably Queen Mary Tudor.
While plagues were extraordinary occurrences, the tragedy of premature death was far from uncommon. We need only consider J.S. Bach. In addition to losing his first wife, fully half of his twenty children died before reaching adulthood, a figure exactly in line with historical studies which show that half of all children died prior to reaching the age of fifteen. While the remaining pieces on the programme (Byrd, Miserere Mei; Weelkes, When David Heard and Obrecht, Parce Domine) may not have all been inspired by pandemics, they are all on some level a reflection of the human condition in the face of mortality and suffering, as well as being expressions of deeply held faith in God.
INTROIT Recordare Domine William Byrd (1540-1623)
Recordare Domine testamenti tui et dic angelo percutienti: Cesset jam manus tua, ut non desoletur terra. Quiescat Domine jam ira tua a populo tuo, et a Civitate Sancta tua, ut non desoletur terra.
Remember, O Lord, thy testament, and say to the avenging angel: Let thy hand be stayed, that the earth be not made desolate. Let thine anger now rest from thy people and from thy Holy City, that the earth be not made desolate.
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS from Missa Cantate John Sheppard (c1515-1558)
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, Iesu 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, Iesu Christe. Cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will 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, Jesus 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.
GRADUAL Misit Dominus (chant)
Misit Dominus verbum suum, et sanavit eos: et eripuit eos de interitu eorum. Confiteantur Domino misericordiae eius: et mirabilia eius filiis hominum.
The Lord sent forth his word, and healed them, and delivered them from destruction. Let them thank the Lord for his mercy, for his wondrous works on behalf of the sons of men
CREDO from Missa Cantate
Credo in unum Deum, patrem omnipoténtem, factórem cæli et terræ, visibílium ómnium et invisibílium.et in unum Dóminum Iesum Christum, fílium Dei Unigénitum, et ex Patre natum ante ómnia sæcula. Deum de Deo, lumen de lúmine, Deum verum de Deo vero, génitum, non factum, consubstantiálem Patri: Per quem ómnia facta sunt.
Qui propter nos hómines et propter nostram salútem descéndit de cælis. Et incarnátus est de Spíritu Sancto ex María Vírgine, et homo factus est. Crucifíxus étiam pro nobis sub Póntio Piláto; passus, et sepúltus est, et resurréxit tértia die, secúndum Scriptúras, et ascéndit in cælum, sedet ad déxteram Patris. Et íterum ventúrus est cum glória, iudicáre vivos et mórtuos, cuius regni non erit finis. Et in Spíritum Sanctum, Dóminum et vivificántem: qui ex Patre Filióque procédit. qui cum Patre et Fílio simul adorátur et conglorificátur: qui locútus est per prophétas. et unam, sanctam, cathólicam et apostólicam Ecclésiam. Confíteor unum baptísma in remissiónem peccatorum. et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam ventúri sæculi. 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 he 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 worshiped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one holy 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.
SANCTUS, BENEDICTUS from Missa Cantate
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaot. 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 thy glory.
Glory be to Thee, O Lord most High.
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the Highest.
ANGUS DEI from Missa Cantate
Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis x2
Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world, grant us Thy peace.
Interval – 15 mins
Stella Caeli Extirpavit – CHANT IN TIME OF PESTILENCE
Stella Caeli extirpavit, quae lactavit Dominum: Mortis pestem quam plantavit primus parens hominum. Ipsa stella nunc dignetur sidera compescere, Quorum bella plebem caedunt dirae mortis ulcere. O piissima stella maris, a peste succurre nobis. Audi nos, Domina, nam Filius tuus nihil negans te honorat. Salva nos Iesu, pro quibus Virgo Mater te orat.
Star of Heaven, who nourished the Lord and rooted up the plague of death which our first parents planted; may that star now deign to hold in check the constellations whose strife grants the people the ulcers of a terrible death. O glorious star of the sea, save us from the plague. Hear us, O Lady, for thy Son denying nothing, honours thee. Save us, Jesus. For us, the Virgin Mother entreats Thee.
When David Heard Thomas Weelkes (1575-1623)
When David heard that Absalom was slain, He went up into his chamber over the gate and wept, and thus he said: my son, my son, O Absalom my son, would God I had died for thee!
Media Vita John Sheppard (1515-1558)
Media vita in morte sumus, Quem quaerimus adjutorem nisi te, Domine? Qui pro peccatis nostris juste irasceris Sancte Deus, Sancte fortis, Sancte et misericors Salvator, Amaræ morti ne tradas nos.
In the midst of life, we be in death: Of whom may we seek for succour, but of Thee, O Lord, which for our sins justly art moved? Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, Deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.
Nunc Dimittis
Nunc Dimittis servum tuum, Domine: secundum verbum tuum in pace. Qui a viderunt oculi mei: salutare tuum. Quod parasti: ante faciem omnium populorum. Lumen ad revelationem gentium: et gloriam plebis tuae Israel. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes hath seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel. 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.
Ne projicias nos in tempore senectutis cum defecerit virtus nostra ne derelinquas nos Domine. Sancte Deus, Sancte fortis, Sancte et misericors Salvator, Amarae morti ne tradas nos.
Do not cast us away in our old age; When our strength fails us do not abandon us O Lord. O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.
Noli claudere aures tuas ad preces nostras. Sancte fortis, Sancte et misericors Salvator, Amarae morti ne tradas nos.
Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.
Qui cognoscis occulta cordis parce peccatis nostris. Sancte et misericors Salvator, Amarae morti ne tradas nos.
Shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.
Miserere Mei William Byrd (1540-1623)
Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam; et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.
Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness: according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
Parce Domine Jacob Obrecht (1450-1505)
Parce Domine, parce populo tuo quia pius es et misericors. Exaudi nos in aeternum, Domine.
Spare, O Lord, spare thy people, for Thou art gracious and merciful. Hear us for ever, O Lord.
The Tallis Choir is:
Sopranos
Margaret Allen, Christie Bates, Anne Biringer, Elizabeth Cowling, Iona Lister, Jane McKinney, Karen MacLeod, Ana Luisa Santo, Suzanne Shwaluk, Sylvie Tremblay, Rebecca Vogan, Jennifer Wilson*, Audrey Winch, Kate Zimmon*
Altos
Claudia Brown, Christine Davidson, Bev Jahnke, Peter Koniers*, Matthew Muggeridge*, Tara Nadal, Naomi Perley, Elaine Robertson
Tenors
Dan Donnelly, Curtis Eisenberg, Charles Im, Nathan Jeffery*, Michael Johnston*, Liam McAlpine, Miriam Verhaar
Baritones and Basses
Jean-Paul Feo, Raphael Redmond Fernandes, Felipe Gasper*, Herbert Lemcke, Rocco Marciano, David Martin, Sean Nix*
*concert soloist
Rehearsal Accompanist
Nathan Jeffery
Artistic Director
Peter Mahon
Thank you for joining us tonight.
Our Next Concert:
A Celebration of William Byrd
Saturday May 6th, 2023.
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