Translations

Recessit pastor noster - Carlo Gesualdo (1560-1613)

Recessit pastor noster fons aquae vivae                         Our Shepherd is departed, the fount of living water

ad cuius transitum sol obscuratus est:                            At whose passing the sun was darkened,

Nam et ille captus est,                                                         For even he was made captive,

qui captivum tenebat primum hominem:                       who was holding captive the first man.

hodie portas mortis et seras pariter                                Today the gates of death and their bars as well

Salvator noster disrupit.                                                     our Savior has destroyed.

Destruxit quidem claustra inferni                                     Indeed He has destroyed the strongholds of the underworld

et subvertit potentias diaboli.                                           And he has overthrown the powers of the devil.

Nam et ille captus est,                                                         For even he was made captive,

qui captivum tenebat primum hominem:                       who was holding captive the first man.

hodie portas mortis et seras pariter                                Today the gates of death and their bars as well

Salvator noster disrupit.                                                     our Savior has destroyed.

Versa est in luctum - Alonso Lobo (1555-1617)

Versa est in luctum cithara mea,                                      My harp is turned to grieving

et organum meum in vocem flentium.                           and my flute to the voice of those who weep.

Parce mihi Domine,                                                            Spare me, O Lord,

nihil enim sunt dies mei.                                                   for my days are as nothing.

Vere languores nostros - Antonio Lotti (1667-1740)

Vere languores nostros ipse tulit                                      Truly, our failings he has taken upon himself

et dolores nostros ipse portavit                                        and our sorrows he has borne

Tristis est anima mea - Marc’Antonio Ingegneri (1535-1592)

Tristis est anima mea usque ad mortem:                        Sorrowful is my soul even unto death.

sustinete hic et vigilate mecum.                                        Stay here, and watch with me.

Nunc videbitis turbam quæ circumdabit me.                  Now you shall see the mob that will surround me.

Vos fugam capietis,                                                              You shall take flight, 

et ego vadam immolari pro vobis.                                     and I shall go to be sacrificed for you.

Ecce appropinquat hora, et Filius hominis                       The time draws near, and the Son of Man

tradetur in manus peccatorum.                                         shall be delivered into the hands of sinners

Nunc videbitis turbam quæ circumdabit me.                  Now you shall see the mob that will surround me.

Vos fugam capietis,                                                              You shall take flight, 

et ego vadam immolari pro vobis.                                     and I shall go to be sacrificed for you.

Jesum tradidit - Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611)

Jesum tradidit impius                                                           The wicked man betrayed Jesus

summis principibus sacerdotum,                                       to the chief priests

et senioribus populi:                                                            and the elders of the people:

Petrus autem sequebatur eum a longe,                           Peter, however, followed him from a distance,

ut videret finem.                                                                    to see the end.

Adduxerunt autem eum                                                       They led him

ad Caipham principem sacerdotum,                                 to Caiaphas, the high priest,

ubi scribae et pharisaei convenerant.                               where the scribes and the Pharisees were met together.

Jesum tradidit impius                                                           The wicked man betrayed Jesus

summis principibus sacerdotum,                                       to the chief priests

et senioribus populi:                                                             and the elders of the people

O vos omnes - Carlo Gesualdo

O vos omnes qui transitis per viam:                                  O all ye that pass by the way,

attendite et videte                                                                 attend and see

si est dolor sicut dolor meum.                                            if there be any sorrow like my sorrow.

Animam meam dilectam - Tomás Luis de Victoria

Animam meam dilectam tradidi                                         I delivered my beloved soul

in manus iniquorum,                                                            into the hands of the wicked,

et facta est mihi haereditas mea                                        and my possessions have become to me

sicut leo in silva                                                                     like a lion in the forest.

Dedit contra me voces adversarius dicens;                     My adversary spoke out against me saying:

congregamini et properate                                                 Come together and make haste

ad devorandum illum;                                                          to devour him.

Posuerunt me in deserto solitudinis                                 They placed me in a solitary desert

et luxit super me omnis terra,                                            and all the earth mourned for me;

quia non est inventus qui me agnosceret,                       because nobody could be found who would claim me

et faceret bene.                                                                     and be kind to me.

Insurrexerunt in me viri absque misericordia,                 Men without mercy rose up against me,

et non pepercerunt animae meae.                                    and they spared not my soul.

quia non est inventus qui me agnosceret,                        because nobody could be found who would claim me

et faceret bene.                                                                     and be kind to me.

When David heard - Thomas Tomkins (1573-1656)

When David heard that Absalom was slain

He went up into his chamber over the gate and wept,

and thus he said: my son, my son, O Absalom my son, would God I had died for thee!

Kyrie - Cipriano de Rore (1516-1565)

Kyrie eleison.                                                                          Lord have mercy.

Christe eleison.                                                                      Christ have mercy.

Kyrie eleison.                                                                          Lord have mercy.