ChoralWiki:Translations/Swithinbank

These translations by Mick Swithinbank should be posted on individual wiki pages, and then deleted from this page.

O magnum mysterium (Morales)

from an Internet source: (part of Gombert's setting is the same) O great mystery and wondrous sacrament, that the animals should witness the birth of the Lord in the manger. Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, whose womb was deemed worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Lord, I have heard your voice and have been afraid: I have seen your works, and feared: I am between two beasts.

Absalon fili mi

Absalon fili mi, quis det ut moriar pro te, Absalon? Non vivam ultra, sed descendam in infernum plorans.

Absalon my son, if only I had died instead of you, Absalon! I shall live no more, but go down to hell, weeping.

O salutaris hostia (De la Rue)

O salutaris hostia quae caeli pandis ostium, bella premunt hostilia: da robur, fer auxilium

Uni trinoque Domino sit sempiterna gloria, qui vitam sine termino nobis donet in patria.

O victim and salvation who opens wide the gate of heaven, we are oppressed by savage wars, give us your strength, bring us your aid.

Everlasting glory be to the Lord, three in One, who gives us life without end in heaven.

O crux ave (Finetti, Palestrina…)

O crux ave spes unica hoc passionis tempore auge piis justitiam reisque dona veniam.

O cross, our only hope in this time of suffering, grant justice to the faithful and mercy to those awaiting judgment.

Surge, propera amica mea (Guerrero)

Surge, propera amica mea, columba mea, formosa mea, et veni. Jam enim hyems transiit, imber abiit et recessit. Flores apparuerunt in terra, tempus putationis advenit. Vox turturis audita est in terra nostra; ficus protulit grossos suos; vineae florentes dederunt odorem suum. Surge, amica mea, speciosa mea, et veni.

Cantus firmus: Veni sponsa Christi.

English translation: Rise up, my love, my dove, my fair one, and come away. For now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of pruning is at hand. The voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land; the fig-tree puts forth her green figs; the flourishing vineyards have given forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

Cantus firmus: Come, bride of Christ.

Comment: There could hardly be a clearer example of the use of a Song of Songs text to address the Virgin Mary, in view of the cantus firmus, which makes the connection by calling Mary Christ's bride. - Mick Swithinbank

Heth, cogitavit Dominus (Brumel)

Heth: cogitavit Dominus dissipare murum filiae Sion, tetendit funiculum suum, et non avertit manum suam a perditione; luxitque ante murale et murus pariter dissipatus est. Caph: defecerunt prae lacrimis oculi mei, conturbata sunt viscera mei, effusum est in terra jecur meum super contritione filiae populi mei cum deficerunt parvulus et lactens in plateis oppidi. Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.

The Lord was minded to bring down in ruins the walls of the daughter of Zion; he took their measure with his line and did not scruple to demolish her; he made rampart and wall lament, and both together lay dejected. My eyes are blinded with tears, my bowels writhe in anguish. In my bitterness my bile is spilt on the earth. The daughters of my people and the sucking child faint away in the streets of the town. Jerusalem, turn again to the Lord your God.

Descendi in ortum meum (Dunstaple, Joh. de Lymburgia, Anon. 16th cent. Scottish all use this text)

Descendi in ortum meum ut viderem poma convallium, et inspicerem si floruissent vineae, et germinassent mala punica. Revertere, Sunamitis, ut intueamur te.

(Bridegroom:) I went down into my garden to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vines flourished and the pomegranates budded. (Unidentified speakers:) Turn, O Shulamite, that we may look upon thee.

Veni, dilecte mi (text used by Palestrina and Lassus)

Veni, dilecte mi, egrediamur in agrum, commoremur in villis; mane surgamus ad vineas. Videamus si floruit vinea, si flores fructus parturiunt, si floruerunt mala punica: ibi dabo tibi ubera mea.

(Bride:) Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the fields, let us abide in the villages; let us arise and go early to the vineyards, let us see if the vines flourish, if the blossom be ready to bring forth fruits, if the pomegranates are in flower: there will I give thee my breasts.

Quae est ista (Palestrina's version)

- a couple of minor differences from our plainsong setting, and quite a lot different from Guerrero's

Quae est ista quae progreditur quasi aurora consurgens, pulchra ut luna, electa ut sol, terribilis ut castrorum acies ordinata?

Who is she that cometh like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army prepared for battle?

De Profundis (Josquin: one setting has verses 1-8 of Psalm 130 (Vulgate 129), the other verses 1-9)

De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine: Domine, exaudi vocem meam. Fiant aures tuae intendentes: in vocem deprecationis meae. Si iniquitates observaveris, Domine: qui sustinebit? Quia apud te propitiatio est: et propter legem tuam sustinuite, Domine. Sustinuit anima mea in verbo ejus, speravit anima mea in Domino, a custodia matutina usque ad noctem. Speret Israel in Domino. Quia apud Dominum misericordia et copiosa apud eum redemptio. Et ipse redimet Israel ex omnibus iniquitatibus ejus. Gloria Patri etc.

1 Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord: 2 Lord, hear my voice. Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. 3 If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it. 4 For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on his word: 5 my soul hath hoped in the Lord. 6 From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. 7 Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption. 8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Glory be to the Father, etc. (Douay-Rheims Bible translation)

Emendemus in melius (Morales)

Emendemus in melius quae ignorantur peccavimus: ne subito praeoccupati die mortis quaeramus spatium paenitentiae, et invenire non possimus. Attende Domine, et miserere: quia peccavimus tibi. Tenor: Memento, homo, quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris.

Let us change for the better the sins we have thoughtlessly committed: lest we in sudden concern on the day of our death seek a space for repentance and cannot find one. Hear us, Lord, and have mercy on us: for we have sinned against you. Tenor: Remember, man, that you are dust and to dust you will return.

In manus tuas (Sheppard)

In manus tuas, domine, commendo spiritum meum. Redemisti me domine, Deus veritatis.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.

Beata es, virgo Maria (G. Gabrieli)

Beata es, virgo Maria, Dei genitrix, quae credidisti omnia perfecta sunt in te quae dicta sunt tibi: ecce, exaltata es super choros angelorum: intercede pro nobis ad Dominum Deum tuum.

Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who gave birth to God; who believed; all has been fulfilled in you that was said to you: behold, you have been raised up above the choirs of angels. O pray for us now to the Lord your God.

Tota pulchra es (Gregorian chant)

Tota pulchra es, amica mea, et macula non est in te; favus distillans labia tua; mel et lac sub lingua tua; odor unguentorum tuorum super omnia aromata: jam enim hiems transiit, imber abiit et recessit. Flores apparuerunt; vineae florentes odorem dederunt, et vox turturis audita est in terra nostra: surge, propera, amica mea: veni de Libano, veni, coronaberis.

Bridegroom: Thou art wholly fair, my love, nor is there any stain in thee; thy lips drip sweetness like the honeycomb; honey and milk are under thy tongue; the scent of thy perfumes is beyond all spices; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have appeared; the flourishing vineyards have given forth their fragrance and the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land. Arise, my love, my fair one: come from Lebanon, come, thou shalt be crowned.

Ecce tu pulchra es (Josquin Desprez, 1455-1521) (a 4)

Ecce tu pulchra es, amica mea. Oculi tui columbarum. Ecce tu pulcher es, dilecte mi, et decorus. Lectulus noster floridus, tecta domorum nostrarum cedrina, laquearia cypressina. Ego flos campi et lilum convallium. Sicut lilium inter spinas, sic amica mea inter filias. Introduxit me rex in cubiculum suum. Ordinavit in me caritatem. Fulcite me floribus, stipate me malis, quia amore langueo.

Bridegroom: Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold thou art fair; thou hast eyes like a dove. Bride: Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, and comely. Our bed is green. The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of cypress. I am the flower of the field and the lily of the valleys. Bridegroom: As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. Bride: The king brought me into his chamber, he ruled me with love. Surround me with flowers, strengthen me with apples, for I am faint with love.

Qualis est dilectus (John Forest, early 15th century) (a 3)

Qualis est dilectus tuus ex dilectis, o pulcherrima mulierum? Amicus meus candidus et rubicundus, electus ex milibus.

Unidentified speaker: What manner of one is thy beloved more than another, O thou most beautiful among women? Bride: My beloved is white and ruddy, chosen out of thousands. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me.

Hortus conclusus (Rodrigo Ceballos, 1530-1581) (a 4)

Hortus conclusus soror mea, sponsa mea, hortus conclusus et fons signatus. Aperi mihi, o soror mea, amica mea, columba mea, immaculata mea. Surge, propera amica mea, et veni. Veni, speciosa mea, ostende mihi faciem tuam. Favus distillans labia tua; mel et lac sub lingua tua. Veni sponsa mea, veni coronaberis.

Bridegroom: A garden enclosed is my sister, my bride, a garden enclosed and a fountain sealed. Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled. Arise my love and come. Come my fair one, let me see thy face. Thy lips are as a honeycomb; honey and milk are under thy tongue. Come, my bride, come, thou shalt be crowned.

Gaude Maria virgo (Victoria)

Gaude Maria virgo: cunctas haereses sola interemisti in universo mundo. Alleluia.

Rejoice, Mary: you alone in the entire world have destroyed all heresies. Alleluia.

Ave Maria (Aliseda)

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus.

Sancta Maria, Regina caeli, dulcis et pia. O Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, ut cum electis te videamus.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Queen of heaven, sweet and faithful. O Mother of God, pray for us sinners, that with the elect we may gaze upon you.