II. Nesciens mater virgo virum from AMinimalist Christmas by Stan DeWitt For SATB choir, piano, violin and 2 mallet percussionists This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
- Stan DeWitt, November 11, 2020 I: Quid petis, o fili? – 15th c. Quid petis, o fili? Mater dulcissima ba ba. O pater, o fili Mihi plausus oscula da da.
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(Translation: What seekest thou, O my son? Sweetest mother ba. O father, O my son, Give me a Kiss of applause.)
The mother, full mannerly and meekly as a maid, looking on her little son, so laughing in lap laid so prettily, so pertly, so passingly well a pay’d full softly and full soberly unto her sweet son she said: Quid petis, o fili? Mater dulcissima ba ba. I mean this by Mary, our maker’s mother of might, full lovely looking on our Lord the lantern of light. Thus saying to our savior: this saw I in my sight, this reason that I read you now, I read it full right. Quid petis, o fili? Mater dulcissima ba ba. Musing on her manners So nigh marr’d was my main Save it pleased me so passingly That past was my pain; Yet softly to her sweet son Me thought I heard her sain: Now gracious God and good sweet babe Yet once this game again. Quid petis, o fili? Mater dulcissima ba ba. O pater, o fili Mihi plausus oscula da da. This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
When the lockdown for the COVID 19 crisis began in March of 2020, I decided to make good use of my time (and to ease my anxieties) by working on a new cantata, hopeful that we would be able to sing again by Christmas. My first idea was to create something in the manner of Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, my favorite choral Christmas work. One of the things I enjoy about that work is the marriage of very old texts and modern compositional techniques.
As I set about searching for texts, I only wanted to find old texts that were new to me. As it turns out, three of the texts I chose have been set by other composers. (Nesciens was set by Jean Mouton, Make We Joy by William Walton and Quid petis… by Richard Pygott.) But since I was unfamiliar with their settings, I felt I was still working in new territory so as not to have a preconceived idea about the text. And they are strange texts to the modern ear. It’s worth noting that, although it has survived through the centuries, our ideas about what Christmas is have changed a great deal. In particular, the first two movements have some pretty striking imagery surrounding the Virgin Mary. But the celebratory nature of all five texts is pretty clear. The next decision I had to make was how to put these very old texts into a more modern context. For that I chose to go back to the 20th century composers I have most admired and respected: the minimalists. In particular for me, Steve Reich was a huge influence in my understanding of modern music, followed later at different times by the other four composers I have tried to pay homage to here: Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, John Tavener and John Adams. Adams’ Harmonielehre had a huge spiritual influence on me during a difficult time in my life. Glass’ work on Koyanisqaatsi helps it remain one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen. And singing Pärt and Tavener’s music over the years has always given me chills. I want to be clear that in no way can I possibly compare myself to these five giants of modern music. And I likely have violated some compositional principles of minimalism throughout this work. I’m more a fan of the minimalists than I am a student of theirs, and I composed this with that spirit. I hope that it at least channels a tiny bit of that beauty into the listener’s ears.
A Minimalist Christmas –
English
III: Make We Joy Now in This Fest - 15th c. (Refrain, sung before each verse): Make we joy now in this fest In quo Christus natus est. Eya.
All through a maiden come to us: Sing we to her and say welcome, Veni, Redemptor gencium. Refrain
heaven.breastssuckled,onlyangels,Him,world.thebore,VirginKnowingtranslationnoman,themotherwithoutpain,SaviourofthethekingoftheVirginfilledby
2. Wake, O earth, wake everything, Wake and hear the joy I bring, Wake and joy; for all this night Heaven and every twinkling light, All Angels,Stillamazing,standgazing,powersandall that be, Wake and joy this Sun to see.
5. This wonder struck the world amazed, It shook the starry frame; Squadrons of spirits stood and gazed, Then down in troops they came.
5. O lux beata Trinitas, He lay between an ox and ass, Thou mother pure and maiden free, Gloria tibi, Domine. Refrain
1. All this night shrill chanticleer, Day's proclaiming trumpeter, Claps his wings and loudly cries, "Mortals, mortals, wake and rise! See a FromHeavenwonderisunder,theearthisrisen a Sun Shines all night though day be done.
1. Fairest of morning lights, appear, Thou blest and gaudy day, On which was born our Saviour dear; Arise and come away.
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3. Hail, O Sun, O blessed Light, Sent into the world by night, Let thy rays and heavenly powers Shine in this dark soul of ours; For most duly Thou art truly God and man we do confess. Hail, O Sun of Righteousness!"
1. A Patre Unigenitus
V: Fairest of Morning Lights - Rev. Thomas Pestell, 1584(?) 1659
So mighty a Lord was none as He; For to our kind He hath given peace, Adam parens quod polluit. Refrain
2. This day prevents His day of doom; His mercy now is nigh; The mighty God of Love is come, The dayspring from on high.
6. Glad shepherds ran to view this sight; A quire of angels sings; And eastern sages with delight Adore this King of kings. MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
2. Agnoscat omne seculum, A bright star maketh three kingès come, Him for to seek with their presènts, Verbum supernum prodiens. Refrain
3. A solis ortus cardine
4. Maria ventre concepit, The Holy Ghost was aye here with; In Bethlehem yborn He is, Consors Paterni luminis. Refrain
IV: All This Night -William Austin (1587 1634)
4. Hark, hark, the wise Eternal Word Like a weak infant cries; In form of servant is the Lord, And God in cradle lies.
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II: Nesciens mater virgo virum - 15th c. Latin Nescienstextmater virgo peperitvirum sine dolore uberesolaangelorumIpsumsaeculorum.salvatoremregemvirgolactabat,decaelopleno.
3. Behold, the great Creator makes Himself an house of clay, A robe of virgin flesh He takes Which He will wear for aye.
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