I don't know whether this sounds strange -- it probably does -- but when I'm really stressed, to the point that I genuinely can't manage things, I listen to medieval music. Plainchant, especially. It's just so comforting. Like eavesdropping on the harmony of the spheres.
_ O Sapientia (plainchant)
_ O Sapientia incarnata / Nos demoramur
_ O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem,fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:veni ad docendum nos
_ O Sapientia incarnata, / mente seraphica contemplata, / voce angelica nunciata, / alvo almifica enutrita, / a patre genita prodiisti, / post patrem florida non fulcisti / una, sed splendida comprobasti / unius merita, cum fuisti / cuntorum entium primus motoret ut celestium fabricator, / sic et humilium contractator, / actorum omnium terminator, / cunta qui nectis modo sublimiea / que fortis iure suavi / semper disponis ordine, primi / velle resolvis atque supremi. / Veni, benigne instrue mentes / fervoris igne redde prudentes / molesque frange usque prementes, / nos tecum iunge diu morantes. //
Nos demoramur, benigne rector, / et prestolamur, que tu, promissor, / spondes, et famur quia transgressor / egit ut remur fieri horror. / Inde, gementes acre timemus / ne deviantes nos pereamus, / cum ignorantes, exerceamus / que cupientes desideramus. / Ergo, lux verax, fuga tenebras / quas nodus tenax usque latebras / limbique portas nobis acerbasdedit et minas ille superbas. / Dum ergo fatum parentis primi / tremimus, casum Plutonis diri, / viam prudentum rogamus pii, / voce silentum ne simus, veni. //
_ O Adonai (plainchant)
_ O Adonai domus Israel / Pictor eterne syderum
_ O Adonay, et Dux domus Israel, / qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, / et ei in Sina legem dedisti: / veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.
_ O Adonay, domus Israel, / O dux, vere deus, Emanuel, / O tu creator cui Michael, / Assunt eque pius et Raphael, / In Syna fulvum qui transformasti / Candentem rubum, quem ostendisti / Esse te verum, atque dedisti / Moysi legem quem docuisti, / Brachium potens, fortis, ostende / Redime, fervens, firmus, intende / Ut liberemur igne gehenne, / Ne teneamur inde perenne. / O future libris propheticis, / Expectate dictis veridicis, Affirmate signis mirificis, / Tu sperate bonis almificis, / Iam tandem veni, manus extendens / Ad redimendum nos miserascens, / Aridam sitim undis extinguens, / Eleos guttis rite perungens.
Pictor eterne syderum, / Via, salus et veritas, / Qui prebes iter prosperum / His qui que vera trinitas / Rite fatentur, lilium, / Viola, rosa, probitas, / Ros, fides, spes, subsidium, / Cedrus, ignis et caritas, / Veni, succurre propere / In brachii potentia, / Fias redemtor libere / In promissi iusticia: / Nos liberabis onere / Quo gravamur astucia / Hostis antiqui colere; / Intendemus leticia. / O Israel Adonay / Te clamamus humiliter: / Veni de monte Sinay, / Leva luctantes iugiter.
_ O radix Jesse (plainchant)
_ O radix Jesse splendida / Cuncti fundent precamina
_ O Radix Yesse, qui stas in signum populorum, / super quem continebunt reges os suum, / quem Gentes deprecabuntur: / veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.
_ O Radix Yesse splendida / Solares vincens radios, / O fundatrix prefulgida / Diversos signans populos, / O altrix vere candida / Sermones claudens regios, / O igne micans fervida / Campos purgans Elisios, / Tu laude digna fertilis, / Quam reges adorabunt, / Pennis a celo agilis, / Quam regine salutabunt, / In terris conversabilis / Tum te proceres timebunt, / Tandem cruce passibilis / Quam prophete expectabunt. / Veni, gloriosissime, / Expectantes delibera, / Frange, tu potentissime, / Manu ferventi infera, / Et si velis, iustissime, / Correctionis effera / Virga, secte, probissime, / Plebem iniquam carcera: / Ne tardes, velocissime.
Cuncti fundent precamina: / Reges, magnates populi, / Continebunt affamina / Super radice agili; / Quid precabuntur agmina, / Quid peroptabunt singuli, / Quid decantabunt carmina, / Quid perorabunt versuli? / Certe, ut cito venias / Ad redimendum scelera. / Ergo, ut plene fulgeas, / Ad nos benignus propera, / Misericordem prebeas / Ut iurasti per viscera, / Plene nobis indulgeas, / Iram antiquam tempera. / Noli tardare, domitor, / Ad liberandum subditos, / Revela sontes, conditor, / Nube delicti perditos.
_ O Clavis David (plainchant)
_ O Clavis David aurea / Quis igitur aperiet
_ O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
_ O Clavis David aurea / et sceptrum Israeliticum / adaperiens sydera / per baculum propheticum, / nulli tam grandis opera /qui possit tuum abditum /noticia tam prospera / sibi tenere subditum. / Nemo claudit cum aperis, /nemo cum claudis aperit, / nemo negat si asseris, / omnis, cum iubes, obedit. / Veni cito, si iusseris, / cor desolatum defuit, / succurre, precor, miseris / quibus reatus obfuit, / vinctos de domo carceris / educ ad lucem presperam, / quos primi culpa sceleris / viam immersit deviam. / Ut sedeant in tenebris /prodant antiquam patriam, / ergo nos ab illecebris, / clavis, reduc in propriam, / quos mors in umbris continet. //
Quis igitur aperiet, / vinctos solvet ligamine, / quis declamantes audiet / ut revincantur carcere? / Sola clavis davitica / que tecta cunta reserat, / Israel, domus inclita, / ut victoriam referat. / Defractis Ditis postibus / portas attollet principum, / et mute factis hostibus, / franget ianuas demonum. / Sedentes tunc in tenebris / et in mortis calígine / vincla remittent demonis / sine iuris examine. / Veni, tu clavis optima / et carceratos libera. //
_ O Oriens (plainchant)
_ O Oriens, lucis eterne splendor / Veni splendor mirabilis
_ O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
_ Lucis eterne splendor, / qui ortus es sol iusticie, / patris mirande decor, / noster fautor amicicie, / dubius ne sis memor / veteris nostre nequitie, / summe te rabbi precor: / dimitte culpam versutie. / Nam digne quis te querere / suis possit operibus, / quis te valet adquirere / propriis suis opibus? / Datum est nobis credere, / quo ligna velut ignibus / ardemus, inde serere / conamur virtutibus. / Quos mortis umbra continet, /veni, splendor et adiuva, / quos tenebrarum possidet / locus horrendus libera, / mirra, incensum offeret / nostra anima gratifera, um illa dies afferet / cum animabus corpora, / tunc spes omnis desinet. //
Veni, splendor mirabilis, / et obsitos caligine / tuis involve radiis, / tuo corrusces lumine. / Libera nos subsidiis, / formasti quos ymagine / plena fecisti gratiis / tua similitudine. / Horrore mortis tegimur / spissis umbrarum nubibus, / ardore mentis coquimur / diris Parcarum sortibus, / fervore cordis fallimur / scissis terrarum molibus, / stridore dentis quatimur / miris penarum oribus. / O ergo, lucis claritas, / funde potenter radios; / o summa, veni, bonitas, / salva fidem ter noxios. //
_ O Rex gentium (plainchant)
_ O Rex virtutum gloria / Quis possit digne exprimere
_ O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.
_ O Rex, virtutum gloria, / desideratus gentium, / lapis ductus in angula, / incognitus amentium, / aule celestis incola, / spes et dilectus fortium, / veni festinus, immola / corpus nobis dominicum. / Qui utraque unum facis / tui ordinis virtute, / qui creatum orbem alis / eternali probitate, / expectantes diu colis / paternali caritate, / nos esurientes velis / pascere sacietate. / Quem de limo tu formasti, / veni et salva hominem / quem de nichilo creasti, / redempturus per virginem; / dele crimen prothoplasti / a quo eximi neminem, / recto iure voluisti, / nisi puram et immunem / per quam carnem liberasti. //
Quis possit digne exprimere / sacre rei misterium? / Qua via comprehendere / quis possit puerperium, / ut se possit inserere / in almam matris alveum, / sine reatus scelere, / quo nobis datur vinculum? / Sine peccato originis, / nasciturus ex virgine, / veni, benignus premiis, / libera nos voragine, / tui terrore fulminis / infice quos in flumine / Flegetontis inveneris, / desistat diro turbine. / Quos tu creasti redime, / qui sedemus in tenebris / et nos sperantes suscipe, / purgemur a miseriis. //
_ O Emanuel (plainchant)
_ O Emanuel rex noster / Magne virtutum conditor
_ O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster
_ O Emanuel, rex noster, / gentium expectatio, / o salvator et legifer, / fessorum exhortatio, / fidelium salutifer, / o tuorum salvator / o inclite vexillifer, / hostium pavefactio. / Sane languentes propere, / ne languore deficiant; / lacrimas nostras apprime / sicca, ne magis defluant; / promissiones relege / et cito nobis affluant; / errantes pedes revehe / ne prepediti decidant. / Infelix hostis corruat / et tu veni redimere / quos ille nodis alligat. / Tu iube manu solvere, / penam quam ille preparat / velis, pie, destruere, / ne Tartarus absorbeat / quos tu iussisti vivere: / veni, antequam rapiat.//
Magne virtutum conditor, / Emanuel rectissime, / firme potentum domitor, / Deus noster doctissime, / alte celorum ianitor, / mandator invictissime, / summe iustorum portitor, / donator clementissime. / Virga silentum diligens, / et tremor infernalium, / panis et potus refovens, / corona supernalium, / habitaculum redolens, / domus cara fidelium, / gloria indeficiens / ad alta properantium. / Veni salvare, Domine, / diu qui expectavimus, / coperi nos de lumine / quod diu perquisivimus. //
_ O Virgo virginum (plainchant)
_ O sacra Virgo Virginum / Tu nati nata suscipe
_ O Virgo virginum, quomodo fiet istud? / Quia nec primam similem visa es nec habere sequentem. / Filiae Jerusalem, quid me admiramini? / Divinum est mysterium hoc quod cernitis.
_ O sacra Virgo virginum, / Mater et patris genita, / Perfecta salus hominum, / Omni virtute condita, / Tu expers es similium, / Humilitati dedita, / Terror et pena demonum, / Recuperans deperdita. / Hierusalem, Hierusalem, / Quid miraris assidue? / Si talem queris hominem / Tu invenire propere, / Non invenies similem / Toto quesito opere. / Ante et post te neminem / Omni tranato ethere. / Divinum est misterium / Quod in te tantum cernitur; / Celeste est imperium / Quod factum tuum colitur, / Ergo, puerperium / Quod virginale noscitur, / Da nobis ministerium / Quo multis celum scanditur, / Et para chaterthirium.
Tu, nati nata, suscipe / Nostra vota que reddimus, / Tuorum preces accipe / Quas tibi pie fundimus, / Te invocantes despice / Quia diu deflevimus, / Ne peccatores reice / A sinu quem quesivimus. / Plena omnis leticie, / Corda nostra letifica ; / Donatrix omnis gratie, / Clamantes te gratifica, / Fautrix omnis iusticie, / Delinquentes iustifica, / Mater misericordie, / Te poscentes almifica. / O sola porta glorie, / Pulsanti valvas aperi, / Et filios miserie / Parcendo manto coperi.
_ Hodie Christus natus est (plainchant)
_ Hodie puer nascitur / Homo mortalis firmiter
_ Hodie Christus natus est: / hodie Salvator apparuit: / hodie in terra canunt Angeli, / laetantur Archangeli / hodie exsultant justi, dicentes: / gloria in excelsis Deo. / Alleluia.
_ Hodie puer nascitur / ante secula genitus; / agnus tener depromitur, / carne mortali conditus, / matre intacta ducitur, / luce quam fecit candidus, / qui previdetur, colitur, / quo non videtur splendidus. / Splendor in nubem funditur, / nec a sole divellitur; / splendor in nube conditur, / nec a nube minuitur; / nubes eodem alitur, / nec alimentum sumitur; / nubes interdum patitur, / nec ille splendor pungitur. / In carne verbum seritur / unione fortissima, / qua caro verbum creditur / ratione firmissima, / et verbum non deseritur / a carne solidissima, / nec unquam caro linquitur / a luce potentissima, / inest qui splendor tessuti / alma cum semper anima.//
Homo mortalis, firmiter / carni cum heret anima, / humana passibiliter / coniuncta sunt hec infima, / duo creata duplici / natura reddunt unicum, / cum gratia multiplici / separandarum partium / sed increata tercia / talem confecit hominem, / qualem superna gratia / ubivis fecit neminem. / Nam splendor carni additus / et anime mirabilem / perpetuum divinitus, / sibi assumpsit hominem. / Ergo, si caro linquitur / ab anima passibili, / mortuus homo creditur / tantum natura duplici. //
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Jean Hanelle – Cypriot Vespers. Maronite and Byzantine Chants, Motets and Plainchant.
Graindelavoix. Björn Schmelzer
(2016, Glossa – GCD P32112)
Seeking advice from folks who hopefully have more knowledge than me for three very different kinds ofnew (to me) music to listen to in the coming year:
- choral, shapenote and plainchant music that *isn’t* Christmas carols. I fucking adore music from these genres every year at Christmas and then realise I don’t know where to look for more that isn’t Christmassy. I did a bit of a short dive when we were watching Carols From Kings this year and saw some potential pointers, but please point me at your favourites. Modern or traditional arrangements of medieval, renaissance and 17th century work, or newer works; please, lay them on me!
- modern music made by indigenous peoples from the Americas, Sami, Mongolian Steppes, Ainu, Australian Aboriginal folk and South Pacific Islanders. I don’t mind the genres, but I’d really love to hear more music people who have been so marginalised and silenced are making now with the internet to share and distribute it, and hopefully ways to get paid for it too on places like Bandcamp. I’ve heard some stunning modern Mongolian throat singing and rapping and I’ve seen incredible mixes of traditional and modern dance from folk like Notorious Cree, but I admit I’m not 100% sure where to start in looking for more. If this is your music, please put ways I can pay you to listen to your music because I’m very aware how shitty streaming services are for that!
- good writing playlists of 1910s music hall and 1920s Chicago jazz and blues; I’m working on a queer urban fantasy novel set in 1920s Chicago with significant flashbacks to 1910s England and it’s always nice to have soundtracks to set the mood while you write!
Last week while picking up a sizable donation of books about books, one of the donors asked if I would like to have these three loose pages from music books: a 15th-century (probably) manuscript on vellum from a gradual, and two pages from the Office of the Dead to be sung during Vespers, purportedly published in Venice in 1776. As they seemed to have been broken from their books quite some time ago, I accepted.
The Gothic hand of the manuscript in black and red is rather worn, but the initial letter, while also a little warn, still retains its brilliance. Within the initial, it’s hard to tell if I’m looking at a flower or a stylized fish! The humanist typeface of the Officium, printed in black and red, has an 18th-century quality, so I would agree with its purported date. Both examples are large, circa 40 cm., to be read by several choir members at a time, and both use square neumes, or musical notation, on a four-line staff used for plainchant. Both also offer a pleasant presentation for this Typography Tuesday!
I love medieval plainchant and polyphony. It takes you entirely into a different era, a sense of awe and wonder at the mysteries of life. Here are 13th and 14th century plainchants and polyphonic songs set against beautiful views of cathedrals, manuscripts, and more.
