Choral Contemplations - Accessible Programme
Tuesday 30 October 2018
Choral Contemplations III: French Choral Music
In memory of Martin Dalby, who died on 25 October 2018.
Et Resurrexit
Martin Dalby (1942- 2018)
Martin Dalby was born in Aberdeen and studied composition with Herbert Howells. He was the Cramb Research Fellow in Composition at the University of Glasgow in 1972. Et Resurrexit was written in memory of Kenneth Leighton, and commissioned by the City of Glasgow District Council for the choir of King’s College, Cambridge during Glasgow’s year as European Capital of Culture in 1990. The texts are taken from the Nicene Creed, “Easter” by George Herbert (1593–1633), and a Scottish chant from the Inchcolm Antiphoner.
Et resurrexit tertia die secundum
scripturas et ascendit in coelum,
sedet ad dexteram Patris, et itertum
venturus est cum gloria judicare
vivos et mortuos,
cujus regni non erit finis.
(Translation)
And He rose again on the third day
according to the scriptures, and
ascended into heaven, and sitteth on
the right hand of the Father, from
thence He shall come again in glory to
judge the living and the dead, and His
kingdom shall have no end.
1. I got me flowers to straw thy way;
I got me boughs off many a tree:
But thou wast up by break of day,
And brought’st thy sweets along with thee.
2. The sun arising in the East,
Though he give light, and the East
perfume; If they should offer to contest
With thy arising, they presume.
3. Can there be any day but this,
Though many suns to shine endeavour?
We count three hundred, but we miss:
There is but one, and that one ever.
4. Yet though my flowers be lost, they
say A heart can never come too late;
Teach it to sing Thy praise this day,
And then this day my life shall date.
Crucem sanctam subiit,
qui infernum confregit,
accinctus est potentia,
surrexit die tertia.
Alleluja.
(Translation)
He bore the Holy Cross,
who broke the power of hell;
He was girded with power
He rose again the third day.
Alleluia.
Crist and Sainte Marie
Godric of Finchale (c. 1060–1170)
Source: British Library, Royal 5 F vii, fo. 85r
St Godric of Finchale was an English hermit, merchant and a popular medieval saint (although he was never formally canonised). His hagiography is recorded by Reginald of Durham, who seems to have known Godric, and includes three hymns, thought to be the oldest songs in English for which the musical settings have survived. The genesis of the songs are preserved in Reginald’s narrative. Crist and Sainte Marie came to Godric during a vision in which his dead sister was carried onto an altar by two angels. His sister sang the English song Crist und Sainte Marie, while the refrain (Kyrie eleison) was sung by the angels, one on the right and one on the left.
Kyrie eleison, Christ eleison
Crist and sainte marie swa on scamel me iledde
þat ic on þis erðe ne silde wid mine bare fote i tredie
(Translation)
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy
Christ and St Mary so carried me with a crutch
That I never had to tread upon this earth with my bare foot
Et Resurrexit
Martin Dalby (1942- 2018)
Martin Dalby was born in Aberdeen and studied composition with Herbert Howells. He was the Cramb Research Fellow in Composition at the University of Glasgow in 1972. Et Resurrexit was written in memory of Kenneth Leighton, and commissioned by the City of Glasgow District Council for the choir of King’s College, Cambridge during Glasgow’s year as European Capital of Culture in 1990. The texts are taken from the Nicene Creed, “Easter” by George Herbert (1593–1633), and a Scottish chant from the Inchcolm Antiphoner.
Et resurrexit tertia die secundum
scripturas et ascendit in coelum,
sedet ad dexteram Patris, et itertum
venturus est cum gloria judicare
vivos et mortuos,
cujus regni non erit finis.
(Translation)
And He rose again on the third day
according to the scriptures, and
ascended into heaven, and sitteth on
the right hand of the Father, from
thence He shall come again in glory to
judge the living and the dead, and His
kingdom shall have no end.
1. I got me flowers to straw thy way;
I got me boughs off many a tree:
But thou wast up by break of day,
And brought’st thy sweets along with thee.
2. The sun arising in the East,
Though he give light, and the East
perfume; If they should offer to contest
With thy arising, they presume.
3. Can there be any day but this,
Though many suns to shine endeavour?
We count three hundred, but we miss:
There is but one, and that one ever.
4. Yet though my flowers be lost, they
say A heart can never come too late;
Teach it to sing Thy praise this day,
And then this day my life shall date.
Crucem sanctam subiit,
qui infernum confregit,
accinctus est potentia,
surrexit die tertia.
Alleluja.
(Translation)
He bore the Holy Cross,
who broke the power of hell;
He was girded with power
He rose again the third day.
Alleluia.
Crist and Sainte Marie
Godric of Finchale (c. 1060–1170)
Source: British Library, Royal 5 F vii, fo. 85r
St Godric of Finchale was an English hermit, merchant and a popular medieval saint (although he was never formally canonised). His hagiography is recorded by Reginald of Durham, who seems to have known Godric, and includes three hymns, thought to be the oldest songs in English for which the musical settings have survived. The genesis of the songs are preserved in Reginald’s narrative. Crist and Sainte Marie came to Godric during a vision in which his dead sister was carried onto an altar by two angels. His sister sang the English song Crist und Sainte Marie, while the refrain (Kyrie eleison) was sung by the angels, one on the right and one on the left.
Kyrie eleison, Christ eleison
Crist and sainte marie swa on scamel me iledde
þat ic on þis erðe ne silde wid mine bare fote i tredie
(Translation)
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy
Christ and St Mary so carried me with a crutch
That I never had to tread upon this earth with my bare foot
TEXTS
Messe de Requiem
Jehan Ariste Alain (1911–1940)
1. Kyrie eleison,
Christe eleison,
Kyrie eleison.
2. Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus
Dominus Deus Sabaoth
Pleni sunt coeli et terra Gloria tua
Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini,
Hosanna in excelsis.
3. Agnus Dei, qui tolis pecata mundi,
Dona eis requiem sempiternam.
1. Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy.
2. 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.
3. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them eternal rest.
Marche funèbre et chant séraphique
Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911)
Played by Kevin Bowyer
O Magnum Mysterium
Francis Poulenc (1899–1963)
O Magnum Mysterium,
Et admirabile sacramentum,
Ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
Jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
Meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
Alleluia!
O great mystery,
And wonderful sacrament,
That animals should see the new-born Lord,
Lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
Was worthy to bear
Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!
Pour les Funerailles d’un Soldat (For the funeral of a soldier)
Lili Boulanger (1893–1918)
Qu’on voile le tambours,
Que le prêtre s’avance,
A genoux, compagnons,
Tete nue, et silence!
Qu’on disse devant nous la priére des morts!
Nous voulons au tombeau porter le capitaine.
Il est mort en soldat sur la terre chrétienne.
L’âme appartient à Dieu,
L’armée aura le corps.
Si en rideaux de pourpre et ces ardents nuages,
que chasse dans l'éther le souffle des orages,
sont des guerriers couchés dans leurs armures d'or.
Penche toi, noble cœur,
surces vertes colines,
et vois tes compagnons briser leurs javelines.
Surcette froide terre où ton corps est reste!
Muffle the drums,
Let the priest come forward,
To your knees companions,
Bear-headed and silent.
Recite for us the prayer of the dead!
We want to bear the Captain to the tomb.
He died as a soldier on Christian land.
The Soul belongs to God,
The army will have the body.
When shrouds of purple and those fiery clouds,
chase the breath of thunderstorms through the sky,
The Warriors will find their rest in golden armor.
Note well, noble heart,
where the hill is greenest,
And see your comrades break their swords,
For under that very hill your body shall rest!
Upcoming concerts
Celebrity Organ Recital - Christopher Herrick
University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel
Friday 9 November, 6pm
Admission Free
Music by J S Bach, Joseph Bonnet, Alexandre Guilmant, Hans André Stamm 'Herrick is a musician with a powerful urge to communicate. And communicate he does, drawing on his enormous technical and intellectual resources to turn out performances which sometimes amaze, often astound, but never fail to stimulate.' Gramophone
WW1 Commemoration Concert – Choral Society & Chapel Choir
University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel
Saturday 10 November, 7.30pm
Tickets: £10 (student concession with ID £5)
Concert will include new work by Tom Harrold commissioned by the University for the WW1 Commemoration, and Ronald Center’s Dona Nobis Pacem.
For more details see www.glasgow.ac.uk/concerts
Choral Contemplations IV – Annual Chamber Groups concert
University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel
Tuesday 13 November 13, 6pm
Admission Free
For details of services and all other performances, please see www.chapelchoir.org.
Jehan Ariste Alain (1911–1940)
1. Kyrie eleison,
Christe eleison,
Kyrie eleison.
2. Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus
Dominus Deus Sabaoth
Pleni sunt coeli et terra Gloria tua
Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini,
Hosanna in excelsis.
3. Agnus Dei, qui tolis pecata mundi,
Dona eis requiem sempiternam.
1. Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy.
2. 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.
3. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them eternal rest.
Marche funèbre et chant séraphique
Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911)
Played by Kevin Bowyer
O Magnum Mysterium
Francis Poulenc (1899–1963)
O Magnum Mysterium,
Et admirabile sacramentum,
Ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
Jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
Meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
Alleluia!
O great mystery,
And wonderful sacrament,
That animals should see the new-born Lord,
Lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
Was worthy to bear
Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!
Pour les Funerailles d’un Soldat (For the funeral of a soldier)
Lili Boulanger (1893–1918)
Qu’on voile le tambours,
Que le prêtre s’avance,
A genoux, compagnons,
Tete nue, et silence!
Qu’on disse devant nous la priére des morts!
Nous voulons au tombeau porter le capitaine.
Il est mort en soldat sur la terre chrétienne.
L’âme appartient à Dieu,
L’armée aura le corps.
Si en rideaux de pourpre et ces ardents nuages,
que chasse dans l'éther le souffle des orages,
sont des guerriers couchés dans leurs armures d'or.
Penche toi, noble cœur,
surces vertes colines,
et vois tes compagnons briser leurs javelines.
Surcette froide terre où ton corps est reste!
Muffle the drums,
Let the priest come forward,
To your knees companions,
Bear-headed and silent.
Recite for us the prayer of the dead!
We want to bear the Captain to the tomb.
He died as a soldier on Christian land.
The Soul belongs to God,
The army will have the body.
When shrouds of purple and those fiery clouds,
chase the breath of thunderstorms through the sky,
The Warriors will find their rest in golden armor.
Note well, noble heart,
where the hill is greenest,
And see your comrades break their swords,
For under that very hill your body shall rest!
Upcoming concerts
Celebrity Organ Recital - Christopher Herrick
University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel
Friday 9 November, 6pm
Admission Free
Music by J S Bach, Joseph Bonnet, Alexandre Guilmant, Hans André Stamm 'Herrick is a musician with a powerful urge to communicate. And communicate he does, drawing on his enormous technical and intellectual resources to turn out performances which sometimes amaze, often astound, but never fail to stimulate.' Gramophone
WW1 Commemoration Concert – Choral Society & Chapel Choir
University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel
Saturday 10 November, 7.30pm
Tickets: £10 (student concession with ID £5)
Concert will include new work by Tom Harrold commissioned by the University for the WW1 Commemoration, and Ronald Center’s Dona Nobis Pacem.
For more details see www.glasgow.ac.uk/concerts
Choral Contemplations IV – Annual Chamber Groups concert
University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel
Tuesday 13 November 13, 6pm
Admission Free
For details of services and all other performances, please see www.chapelchoir.org.