Westron Wynde

Song Westron Wynde John Taverner (1490-1545) Gloria (Western Wind Mass) a4 Lauda Iesù, dolce conforto e sommo bene (1490-1562) Infelix ego a6 Lauda Occhi miei oscurati Antonius Galli (c1505-1565) Ecce quam bonum a6 Philippe Verdelot (1480-1530) Letamini in Domino a6 William Hunnis (1530-1597) Ah, helpless wretch Jacobus Clemens non Papa (1510-1555) Tristitia obsedit me, amici a4

Interval of about 12 minutes

John Taverner Sanctus (Western Wind Mass) a4 Plainchant Ut queant laxis Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611) Descendit angelus a5 Tomás Luis de Victoria Benedictus Dominus Deus a4 Plainchant Nativity of John the Baptist Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612) Inter natos mulierum a4 Francisco Guerrero (1528-1599) Cum audisset Ioannes a4 Plainchant Beheading of John the Baptist Antonius Galli Puellae saltanti a4 John Taverner Agnus Dei (Western Wind Mass) a4

The Art of Music directed by Mick Swithinbank

28 September 2014 Église St-Jean Luxembourg-Grund Some notes on the programme parts, generally no more than three of them, moving mostly in step together. It was a This programme comprises three separate genre that the puritanical Savonarola elements. The first part of the concert approved of, and he himself wrote new words contains a series of works connected in one to existing laude, one example being Iesù, way or another with , dolce conforto e sommo bene. while the second follows the life of John the Savonarola came to fame in in the Baptist. Framing these are movements from 1480s and 1490s, where he attracted a huge John Taverner’s Western Wind Mass. following by campaigning for a return to the The Western Wind Mass was the first Mass purity and simplicity of the early church; by an English composer to be based on a after his death he also inspired Luther and secular melody, and that melody is heard other Protestant reformers. He particularly constantly in one voice or another. It is more criticised the corruption of the Catholic often found in the soprano part than Church (as witness his lauda in this elsewhere, making it highly conspicuous. The programme), and he was eventually music is mostly framed in duple time, but excommunicated, arrested, tried for heresy most of the movements end in a dancing and executed. As he favoured simple music, triple time. The Credo and Benedictus are it is ironic that so many eminent composers omitted in this performance (and polyphonic in Italy, France, Germany and England later Masses composed in England did not set parts of his Latin meditations on Psalms normally include a Kyrie), leaving three 30 and 50 to elaborate polyphony, of which movements, which are spread over the whole he would not have approved because the programme, separated as they would have music obscured the words and was a been in church use. We preface the Gloria distraction. The best known composers to with a rendering of the brief song itself – first have done so were Byrd, Lassus, Willaert, de a version which survives from the early 16th Rore, Richafort, and century, then the somewhat altered version Clemens non Papa. William Hunnis’s on which Taverner seems to have based his English verse paraphrase, with a single Mass. Taverner’s work must have proved melody line, would no doubt have met with popular, as Tye and Sheppard subsequently greater approval. based Masses on the same theme. Savonarola drew his motto from the first The Italian lauda tradition is one that The verse of Psalm 132, ‘Ecce quam bonum…’ Art of Music has drawn on before. Tracing (Behold how good and pleasant it is for its origins back as far as St Francis, it brethren to dwell together in harmony), and involved writing simple songs in the his followers sang it to a simple melody, vernacular rather than in Latin, and they which was later quoted (in both cases as a were sung by laypeople, not in church. At canon between two voices) in the joyful first the music consisted of a single melody motets Ecce quam bonum and Letamini in line, but by Savonarola’s time it was often in Domino which appear in this programme. In

2 contrast, Savonarola wrote his penitential born of women, there is not a greater prophet meditations on Psalms 30 and 50 while than John the Baptist’ (Inter natos awaiting execution: the motet by Clemens mulierum). quotes from both, while the Willaert work John dared to rebuke the tetrarch Herod draws only on Infelix ego (inspired by Antipas for his evil deeds, especially his Psalm 50, Vulgate numbering). Willaert public adultery in having married Herodias. very appropriately assigns one voice to sing Accordingly, Herodias nursed a bitter hatred the plainchant ‘ mei Deus’, from the against John, and she persuaded Herod to psalm itself. imprison him. Some of John’s disciples were Ut queant laxis alludes to the main events allowed to visit him in prison, telling him in John the Baptist’s life. It is also the source about the wonders wrought by Jesus. As they of the sol-fa scale, invented by Guido refused to be convinced by John’s assertion d’Arezzo in the 11th century. Each short that Jesus was the Messiah, John sent them phrase of the melody starts one step higher to Jesus to ask him directly whether he was. than the previous one, and Guido decided to Jesus replied ‘Go and relate to John what you name the notes after the syllables falling on have heard and seen: the blind see, the lame them in the first verse. His system was walk…’ (Cum audisset Ioannes). intended to enable singers, for the first time, The opportunity that Herodias had been to read unfamiliar music. waiting for came at a feast held by Herod, at The foremost source of information about which Herodias’s daughter (unnamed in the John the Baptist – seen as the forerunner of Gospels, but according to the historian Christ – is the Gospels, especially that Josephus, called Salome) danced. according to St Luke. His birth was Impulsively, Herod offered her any reward announced in a striking manner. Zachary she might ask for, and at her mother’s and Elizabeth had remained childless and bidding, Salome asked for John’s head, which were now old. An angel appeared to Zachary he was then unable to refuse. As will be to tell him that Elizabeth would bear him a apparent from our programme, the rare motet son, whom he must call John (Descendit text Puellae saltanti was pieced together angelus). Zachary was sceptical, so the from antiphons for the feast of John’s angel struck him dumb until the promise was ‘decollation’. fulfilled. After his power of speech was The commemoration of John’s birth is one of restored, Zachary uttered the canticle the oldest feasts. The commemoration of his Benedictus Dominus Deus. beheading is nearly as ancient, and the When John had grown up, he went about extraordinary significance attributed to him preaching in much the same way as Jesus did is evident from his being assigned two feasts later. He baptised his followers in the Jordan, in this way. There could hardly be a more and Jesus also came to be baptised by him. fitting programme of music than today’s for Jesus said of John: ‘Amongst those that are performance in the Église St Jean. —MS

3 Merci d’éteindre votre GSM Please switch off your mobile phone totalement et de ne pas applaudir completely and do not applaud between entre les morceaux. pieces. Thank you.

Westron Wynde Song Westron wynde, when wilt thou blow, The small raine down can raine. Cryst, if my love were in my armes And I in my bedde again.

Gloria a4 John Taverner (1490-1545) Western Wind Mass Gloria in excelsis Deo, Glory to God in the highest, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. and on earth peace to people of good will. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, We praise you, we bless you, adoramus te, glorificamus te. we worship you, we glorify you, Gratias agimus tibi we give you thanks propter magnam gloriam tuam, for your great glory, Domine Deus, rex coelestis, O Lord God, heavenly king, Deus, Pater omnipotens. God the Father almighty. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe, O Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, Qui tollis peccata mundi, you take away the sins of the world, miserere nobis. have mercy on us. Qui tollis peccata mundi, You take away the sins of the world, suscipe deprecationem nostram. receive our prayer. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, You sit at the right hand of the Father, miserere nobis. have mercy on us. Quoniam tu solus sanctus, For you alone are holy, tu solus Dominus, you alone are the Lord, tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe. you alone are most high, Jesus Christ, Cum Sancto Spiritu with the Holy Spirit, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen. in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Iesù, dolce conforto e sommo bene Lauda (words: Savonarola)

Iesù, dolce conforto e sommo bene Jesus, sweet comfort and highest good d’ogni affanato core, of every troubled heart, risguarda Roma cum perfetto amore. look upon Rome with perfect love.

Deh! Mira cum pietade Ah, regard with mercy in che procella si trova tua sposa. the tempest in which your spouse finds herself E quanta sangue, oimè! and how much blood, alas, tra noi s’aspetta se la tua man pietosa, we can expect if your merciful hand, che di perdonar sempre se diletta, which always delights in granting pardon,

4 non la riduce a quella does not bring her (the Church) back pace che fu quand’era poverella. to the peace she enjoyed when she was poor.

Risguarda la bontà che già ti mosse Recall the goodness that once moved you a prender carne umana to take on human flesh, e per noi farti come un verme in terra; and for our sake to become like a worm on the earth: soccurri a la Romana tua santa Chiesa lend aid to your holy Roman Church ch’el demonio atterra, which the devil has prostrated, rompendo i nervi e l’osse, breaking her sinews and bones, se non ripari a le sue gran percosse. unless you protect her from such great blows.

Iesù, dolce confort’e sommo bene Jesus, sweet comfort and highest good d’ogn’affanato core, of every troubled heart, risguarda Roma cum perfetto amore. look upon Rome with perfect love.

Infelix ego a6 Adrian Willaert (1490-1562) (words: Savonarola)

Infelix ego, omnium auxilio destitutus, Alas, wretch that I am, bereft of all help, qui coelum terramque offendi. who have offended heaven and earth, Quo ibo? Quo me vertam? where shall I go? Whither shall I turn? Ad quem confugiam? Quis mei miserebitur? To whom shall I flee? Who will take pity on me? Ad coelum oculos levare non audeo, To heaven I dare not lift up my eyes, quia ei graviter peccavi; for I have deeply sinned against it; in terra refugium non invenio, on earth I find no refuge, quia ei scandalum fui. for I have been an offence to it. Quid igitur faciam? What therefore shall I do? Desperabo? Absit. Shall I despair? Far from it. Misericors est Deus, pius est salvator meus. God is merciful; my Saviour is loving. Solus igitur Deus refugium meum; God alone therefore is my refuge; ipse non despiciet opus suum, he will not despise his own work, non repellet imaginem suam. he will not reject his own image.

Ad te igitur, piissime Deus, To you therefore, most merciful God, tristis ac moerens venio, I come sad and sorrowful, quoniam tu solus spes mea, for you alone are my hope, tu solus refugium meum. you alone are my refuge. Quid autem dicam tibi, But what shall I say to you, cum oculos levare non audeam? since I dare not lift up my eyes? Verba doloris effundam, I will pour out words of sorrow, misericordiam tuam implorabo, dicam: I will implore your mercy; I will say: Miserere mei, Deus, ‘Have mercy on me, O God, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. according to your great loving-kindness.’

Cantus firmus: Miserere mei, Deus. Have mercy on me, O God.

5 Occhi miei oscurati Lauda in honour of Savonarola Giovanni Domenico del Giovane da Nola

Occhi miei oscurat’è ’l nostro sole My eyes, darkened is our sun, ond’havevam’ un temp’e vit’e’l lume: whence we once had life and light; fate dunque di piant’un largo fiume. make therefore a broad river with your tears.

Occhi miei lassi, mentre ch’io vi giro, Weary eyes of mine, while I turn you, non scorget’altro che spavent’ errore don’t discern anything other than the frightful loss; format’un fonte hormai col vostr’humore. form now a fountain with your liquid.

Occhi pianget’; accompagnat’il core Weep, eyes; accompany the heart e di lagrim’un mar versate fuora and pour forth a sea of tears, poi ch’è morta la nostra bell’ Aurora. Since our lovely Aurora is dead.

Occhi miei occhi non già ma fonti Eyes of mine, eyes no more but fountains, chiamamo morte che n’occid’hormai Let us call on death that he may kill you now, che ben muor chi morendo esce di guai. Since he comes to a good end who in dying leaves woe behind.

Ecce quam bonum a6 Antonius Galli (c1505-1565) Ecce quam bonum et quam iocundum Behold how good and how pleasant it is habitare fratres in unum: for brethren to dwell together in unity: sicut unguentum in capite, like the precious ointment on the head quod descendit in barbam Aaron: that ran down upon the beard of Aaron: quod descendit in oram vestimenti eius, which ran down to the skirt of his garment, sicut ros Hermon, as the dew of Hermon qui descendit in montem Sion. which descendeth upon Mount Sion. Quoniam illic mandavit Dominus benedictionem, For there the Lord hath commanded blessing et vitam usque in saeculum. and life for evermore.

Letamini in Domino a6 Philippe Verdelot (1480-1530) Letamini in Domino et exultate iusti, Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye just, et gloriamini omnes recti corde. Alleluia. And glory, all ye right of heart. Alleluia.

Cantus firmus: Ecce quam bonum et quam iocundum Behold how good and how pleasant it is habitare fratres in unum. for brethren to dwell together in unity.

6 Ah, helpless wretch William Hunnis (1530-1597) (verse paraphrase of Infelix ego) Ah, helpless wretch, what shall I do? or which way shall I run? The earth bewrays*, and heaven records the sins that I have done. The gates of hell wide open stand, for to receive me in, and fearful fiends all ready be to torment me for sin. Alas, where shall I succour find? The earth doth me deny, and to the sacred heavens above I dare not lift mine eye. If heaven and earth shall witness be against my soul for sin, untimely birth (alas) for me much better then had been. And now despair approacheth fast, with bloody murdering knife, and willeth me to end my griefs, by shortening of my life. Shall I despair? Thou God forbid, for mercy more is thine than if the sins of all the world were linked now with mine. Despise not then, most loving Lord, the image of thy face, which thou hast wrought and dearly bought with goodness of thy grace. And since thy bloody price is paid, and bitter paines all past, receive my plaints, accept my spirit and mercy grant at last. So shall my soul rejoice, rejoice, and still for mercy cry, Peccavi, peccavi, miserere mei. * bewrays: reveals Tristitia obsedit me a4 Jacobus Clemens non Papa (1510-1555) (words: Savonarola) Tristitia obsedit me, Sorrow has besieged me, amici mei sunt in castris eius my friends are in her camp et facti sunt mihi inimici. and have become my enemies. Quaecumque video, quaecumque audio, Whatever I see, whatever I hear, vexilla tristitiae deferunt. Carries the banners of Sadness. Memoria amicorum me contristat, The memory of friends makes me melancholy, cogitatio peccatorum me premit. thinking about my sins oppresses me. Infelix ego, Alas wretch that I am, qui coelum terramque offendi. who have offended heaven and earth.

Quid igitur faciam? What therefore shall I do? Desperabo? Absit. Shall I despair? Far from it. Misericors est Deus, pius est salvator meus. God is merciful, my Saviour is loving. Ad te igitur, piissime Deus, To you therefore, most merciful God, tristis ac moerens venio, en quaeso: I come sad and sorrowful, behold I say: Miserere mei, Deus, ‘Have mercy on me God, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. according to your great mercy.’

7 Interval of about 12 minutes

Sanctus a4 John Taverner The Western Wind Mass Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Holy, holy, holy, Dominus Deus Sabaoth; Lord God of hosts, pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua; heaven and earth are full of your glory: osanna in excelsis. hosanna in the highest.

Ut queant laxis Plainchant Ut queant laxis resonare fibris, So that your servants may sing with tuneful Mira gestorum famuli tuorum, voice of your wonderful feats, Solve polluti labii reatum, loosen the sin-polluted lips of the wicked, Sancte Ioannes. we beseech you, St John.

Nuntius caelo veniens supremo Lo! a swift herald, from the skies descending, te patri magnum fore nasciturum, foretold your birth and significance to your nomen et vitae seriem gerendae father; told him how to name you, and what ordine promit. part you would have to play.

Ille promissi dubius superni Scarcely believing a message so transcendent, perdidit promptae modulos loquelae; at once he lost the power of speech, sed reformasti genitus peremptae till, at your wondrous birth, organa vocis. his voice returned.

Ventris obstruso positus cubili You, in your mother’s womb all darkly cradled, senseras regem thalamo manentem, knew your Monarch, biding in His chamber, hinc parens nati meritis uterque whence the two mothers sang of mysteries, abdita pandit. lauding the child’s merits.

Laudibus cives celebrant superni The heavenly citizens celebrate you te, deus simplex pariterque trine, with praises, one God and at once triune; supplices ac nos veniam precamur: we also come imploring forgiveness; parce redemptis. spare us among the redeemed. Amen. Amen.

8 Descendit angelus a5 Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611) Luke 1:13 Descendit angelus Domini ad Zachariam, The angel of the Lord came down to Zechariah dicens: Accipe puerum in senectute tua: and said: You shall have a son in your old age, Et habebit nomen Joannes Baptista. and his name shall be John the Baptist. Ne timeas, quoniam exaudita est oratio tua, Fear not, for your prayer has been heard, et Elisabeth uxor tua pariet tibi filium: and Elisabeth your wife shall bear you a son, Et habebit nomen Joannes Baptista. and his name shall be John the Baptist.

Benedictus Dominus Deus a4 Tomás Luis de Victoria The Song of Zechariah Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem for he hath visited and redeemed his people; plebi suae et erexit cornu salutis nobis And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us: in domo David pueri sui in the house of his servant David; sicut locutus est per os sanctorum As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets: qui a saeculo sunt prophetarum eius. which have been since the world began; Salutem ex inimicis nostris That we should be saved from our enemies: et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos. and from the hand of all that hate us. Ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus To perform the mercy promised to our nostris et memorari testamenti sui sancti: forefathers: and to remember his holy Covenant; iusiurandum quod iuravit ad Abraham To perform the oath which he sware to our patrem nostrum daturum se nobis. forefather Abraham: that he would give us; Ut sine timore de manu inimicorum That we being delivered out of the hand of our nostrorum liberati serviamus illi enemies: might serve him without fear; in sanctitate et iustitia coram ipso In holiness and righteousness before him: omnibus diebus nostris. all the days of our life. Et tu puer propheta Altissimi vocaberis And thou, Child, shalt be called the Prophet of praeibis enim ante faciem Domini the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of parare vias eius: the Lord to prepare his ways; ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi eius To give knowledge of salvation unto his people: in remissionem peccatorum eorum. for the remission of their sins, Per viscera misericordiae Dei nostri Through the tender mercy of our God: whereby in quibus visitavit nos oriens ex alto: the day-spring from on high hath visited us; illuminare his qui in tenebris To give light to them that sit in darkness, et in umbra mortis sedent and in the shadow of death: ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis. and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Gloria Patri et Filio Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: et Spiritui Sancto. and to the Holy Ghost; Sicut erat in principio, et nunc As it was in the beginning, is now, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

9 Antiphons Plainchant Nativity of John the Baptist (24 June) —Elisabeth Zachariae magnum virem —Elisabeth, the wife of Zechariah, gave birth to genuit, Ioannem Baptistem, a great man: John the Baptist, praecursorem Domini. the forerunner of the Lord. —Tu puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis: —You, child, will be called the prophet of the praeibis ante Dominum most high: you will go before the Lord parare vias eius. to prepare his paths. —Puer qui natus est nobis —The child that has been born to us plus quam propheta est: is more than a prophet: hic est enim de quo Salvator ait: he is the one of whom the Saviour said, inter natos mulierum ‘Among those born of women non surrexit maior Ioanne Baptistae. there arose none greater than John the Baptist’. Inter natos mulierum a4 Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612) Inter natos mulierum Among those born of women non surrexit maior Iohanne Baptista there arose none greater than John the Baptist qui viam Domini praeparavit who prepared the way of the Lord in heremo. Alleluia. in the wilderness. Alleluia. Cum audisset Ioannes a4 Francisco Guerrero (1528-1599) Cum audisset Ioannes in vinculis When John, who was in chains, heard opera Christi, about the deeds of Christ, mittens duos de discipulis suis ait illi: he sent two of his disciples to ask him, Tu es qui venturus es? ‘Are you the one who is to come, An alium expectamus? or should we wait for someone else?’ Et respondens Jesus ait illis: Euntes Jesus answered by telling them, ‘Go back and renunciate Joanni quae audistis et vidistis: report to John what you hear and see: Caeci vident, claudi ambulant, the blind receive sight, the lame walk, surdi audiunt, mortui resurgunt, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, pauperes evangelizantur. and the good news is proclaimed to the poor’. Antiphons Plainchant Beheading of John the Baptist (29 August) —Herodes enim tenuit et ligavit Ioannem, —Herod had John seized, bound et posuit in carcerem propter Herodiadem. and put in prison on Herodias’s account. —Domine mi rex, da mihi in disco —My lord king, give me on a plate caput Ioannis Baptistae. the head of John the Baptist. —Puellae saltanti imperavit mater: nihil aliud —Her mother instructed the dancing girl: ask petas, nisi caput Ioannis. for nothing else but the head of John the Baptist. —Da mihi in disco caput —Give me on a plate the head Ioannis Baptistae: et contristatus est rex of John the Baptist: and the king was sorry propter iusiurandum. because of his oath.

10 Puellae saltanti a4 Antonius Galli Mark, Chapter 6

Puelle saltanti imperavit mater: Her mother commanded the dancing girl: nil aliud petas nisi caput ask for nothing else but the head Ioannis baptiste; of John the Baptist; et contristatus est rex propter iusiurandum and the king was sorry because of his oath, et propter simul discumbentes. and because of those that were dining with him.

Domine mi rex, da mihi in disco My lord king, give me on a plate caput Ioannis baptiste; et contristatus est rex the head of John the Baptist; and the king was propter iusiurandum sorry because of his oath, et propter simul discumbentes. and because of those that were dining with him.

Agnus Dei a4 John Taverner The Western Wind Mass

Agnus Dei, O Lamb of God, qui tollis peccata mundi: you take away the sins of the world, miserere nobis. have mercy on us. Agnus Dei, O Lamb of God, qui tollis peccata mundi: you take away the sins of the world, miserere nobis. have mercy on us. Agnus Dei, O Lamb of God, qui tollis peccata mundi: you take away the sins of the world, dona nobis pacem. have mercy on us.

11 The Art of Music directed by Mick Swithinbank

Jennifer Schofield & Magdalena Matenko, soprano Marita Thomas & Nigel Heavey, alto Mick Swithinbank, tenor Alan Carlisle, baritone & Edward Seymour, bass

The Art of Music vocal ensemble was founded in Luxembourg in 1993. It takes its name from an anonymous Scottish treatise written in the late 16th century. Its aim is to revive unjustly neglected music from that and earlier times. We would like to acknowledge the following Choral Public Domain Library editors, whose editions have been used in this programme: Nancho Alvarez, Ross Jallo and Lewis Jones. Puellae saltanti was edited by Mick Swithinbank from a 16th century source. Our concert of Lenten music scheduled for March 2015 will include Peccavimus by Christopher Tye, Media vita by John Sheppard, Stabat mater by Josquin Desprez and works by Giaches de Wert and Jacobus Clemens non Papa.

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