When the world seems far beyond me, And I have no place to go, When my life seems cold and empty, And I feel I’m all alone, Then a song that I remember Helps to ease my troubled mind...
Ave Maria is one prayer that has several arrangements by well-renowned musicians. During my early stints as a chorister, I had the opportunity to sing Jacques Arcadelt's arrangement.
Jacques Arcadelt (also Jacob Arcadelt) (c. 1507 – 14 October 1568) was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance, active in both Italy and France, and principally known as a composer of secular vocal music. Although he also wrote sacred vocal music, he was one of the most famous of the early composers of madrigals; his first book of madrigals, published within a decade of the appearance of the earliest examples of the form, was the most widely printed collection of madrigals of the entire era. via Wikipedia
In preparation for Holy Week 2012, I will feature some of my favorite sacred music choral pieces. Ave Maria by Jacques Arcadelt is one of the first sacred music choral pieces I've learned. Since it's a Saturday, the church dedicates this day to our dear Lady, which is why I saw it fit to feature this song.
Although there were other verses that the priest emphasized in today's Gospel, I chose to reflect on these words. It reminded me of a song I featured in one of my earlier blogs in January of this year: Ave Verum. Here I will feature the song again, this time presenting Mozart's composition. When I was still singing with the choir, this is the version I learned first. It's accompanied by an orchestra or an organist. It's solemn and uplifting. Here are the words in Latin and English. It will truly help in reflecting the passage above. Have a wonderful day!
Ave, verum corpus Hail,true body
natum de Maria Virgine, born of the Virgin Mary,
Vere passum immolatum Who truly suffered, sacrificed
in Cruce pro homine, on the Cross for man,
Cujus latus perforatum Whose pierced side
unda fluxit et sanguine, overflowed with water and blood,
Esto nobis praegustatum Be for us a foretaste
in mortis examine. In the trial of death.
A colleague has this Dilbert mug with the following inscription: "Away you demons of stupidity!" Well, so many struggles in our life involve in one form or the other--not just demons of stupidity--but the "daemon" himself. After this gruelling week of training, I remember a song entitled "Daemon Irrepit Calidus" by Gyorgy Orban. It's one of the songs I used to sing with the choir in which I was quite challenged with the pacing, exchange and overlapping lines among the different voices. Also, this song brought back wonderful memories of my first trip outside of the Philippines. It's nice to sometimes go back a relish the good times as a way of recharging oneself and prepare for another possible challenging week ahead. And it's my personal prayer as well as a command in the name of Jesus Christ--away with you "daemons."
Daemon Irrepit Callidus György Orbán
Daemon irrepit calidus,
Allicit cor honoribus.
Quid amabile Daemon dat
Cor jesu minus aestimat
Daemon point frauds inter cantus,
Saltus, Daemon!
Caro venaratur sensibus;
Sen sus adhaeret dapibus;
In aescatur, impinguatur dilatatur.
Cordis Aestum non explebunt, non arcebunt, Daemon! Daemon!
Translation:
The Demon sneaks expertly
Tempting the honorable heart:
He sets forth trickery amidst praise, song and dance.
However amiably the Demon acts,
It is still worth less than the heart of Jesus.
The Flesh is tempted by sensuality;
Gluttony clings to our senses;
It overgrows, it encroaches, it stretches.
However appealing the Flesh is,
It is still worth less than the heart of Jesus.
Though the Universe may confer
Thousands upon thousands of praises,
They neither fulfill nor put out the desire of the heart.
However appealing the whole Universe is,
It is still worth less than the heart of Jesus.
When I was still with the choir, we were learning some new songs to sing for the mass. One of them was a song entitled "Sa Iyong Mga Yapak." When we were working on our harmony, I seem to remember our choirmaster telling us to feel and understand every word that we sing. Taking that suggestion to heart, we began singing the song and while the sopranos (I being one of them) were singing the words, I almost choked and found myself wanting to cry. It's like a revelation at that time that the song that I'm singing refers to the loving act of our Lord Jesus Christ as he suffered and died for our sins. It's a good thing that there were eight of us in the soprano section and so, my stopping at mid-song wasn't too obvious. Since then, whenever we sing this song during the mass, I try my best to hold back the tears for a few minutes so that the beauty of the song and it's reflective words may touch those people hearing mass. I knew then that this song is truly perfect for Lenten Season. But I'd take it a step further that this song truly reflects Jesus' everyday sacrifice to us whenever he changes the host and the wine into his body and blood. This is one of my favorite and most loved Filipino Sacred Music. Here I share it with you in the spirit of the Lenten Season and in thanksgiving for God's marvelous gift of love and mercy.
By the way, the English translation is a rough one. Pardon my efforts if I have not completely captured the essence of the song. I hope that you'd be touched by the song itself.
SA IYONG MGA YAPAK English Translation
Landas na kay tinik sa Iyo'y inilaan A path filled
with thorns was intended for You
Bawa't hakbang nito'y dusa't hirap ang laman Every step is filled with
suffering and anguish
Sa kalooban ng Ama nagpasakop kang ganap You
submittedto the Father’s willfully
Buhay Mo O Hesus ang siyang alay na sapat Your life,OJesus,was the only offering that’s enough
Laban sa agos ng mundo, Against
the grainof the world,
Lumakad ka sa landas Mo Youwalkedthe
path only you have chosen
Laban sa lakad ng mundo, Against thetrendof the world,
Landas na sa 'ki'y nais Mo You walked the path you wished that I would take
Sa Iyong mga yapak, ako ay tatahak I will walk in Your footsteps,
Kahit tigib ng luha ang nilakaran Mong landas Even
though the path You trod isfull oftears
Pasakit man at dusa dulot ng mundo'y kamtan Even if the world may bring me painand
suffering
Bawat bakas ng Iyong mga yapak Every traceof Your footsteps
Bawat hakbang Mo'y aking susundan Every step You take, I shall take it too
Kay hirap Mang gawin kalooban Mo'y tupdin Though it’shardto
doThywill completely
Pinili kong sundan bakas ng 'Yong mga hakbang I choose tofollow the path
treaded by your footsteps
Ang buhay ko'y laan sa Iyo kailanpaman My life I give fullyto Thee forevermore
Maglilingkod sa'Yo Panginoon hanggang wakas I shall serve you, OGod,to the end
It's difficult to lose a loved one--that's partly the reason why I haven't written anything on this blog. I know that we (the family) have done everything good for my dad. There was one detail there I wasn't happy about and it concerns the subject (the inspiration) for this blog. I lost that inspiration and it took a while before I thought about what to write in this blog.
Since my dad passed away three weeks ago, the family and I were too busy with things to be done for my dad's passage to the afterlife--the family, both here in Manila and Bacolod, contributed and shared with us (dad's immediate family) their condolences, plus friends of dad and the family. I couldn't thank them enough!
Our time to grieve happen to coincide with the Season of Lent. I came to recall a song that immortalized Mary's sorrow at the death of her dearly beloved son Jesus Christ--Stabat Mater. Who else could perfectly understand the pain of loss and suffering than that of our dear Blessed Mother Mary? This is a song that I see fitting for this occasion. And also, this for you, dad! Farewell!
From the family mausoleum in Isabela, Negros Occidental
STABAT MATER English Translation
1. Stabat Mater dolorosa 1. At the cross her station keeping,
Iuxta crucem lacrimosa stood the mournful mother weeping,
Dum pendebat Filius close to Jesus to the last
2. Cuius animam gementem 2. Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
Contristatam et dolentem all his bitter anguish bearing,
Pertransivit gladius now at length the sword had passed.
3. O quam tristis et afflicta 3. Oh how sad and sore distressed
Fuit illa benedicta was that mother highly blessed,
Mater unigeniti! of the sole-begotten One!
4. Quae moerebat et dolebat, 4. Christ above in torment hangs;
Pia Mater, dum videbat she beneath beholds the pangs
Nati poenas incliti of her dying glorious Son.
5. Quis est homo qui non fleret, 5. Is there one who would not weep,
Matrem Christi si videret whelmed in miseries so deep
In tanto supplicio? Christ's dear Mother to behold?
6. Quis non posset contristari, 6. Can the human heart refrain
Christi Matrem contemplari from partaking in her pain,
Dolentem cum Filio? in that Mother's pain untold?
7. Pro peccatis suae gentis 7. For the sins of His own nation
Vidit Iesum in tormentis, saw Him hang in desolation,
Et flagellis subditum. all with bloody scourges rent.
8. Vidit suum dulcem natum 8. Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
Moriendo desolatum she beheld her tender child,
Dum emisit spiritum till His Spirit forth he sent.
9. Eia Mater, fons amoris 9. O, thou Mother, fount of love,
Me sentire vim doloris touch my spirit from above,
Fac, ut tecum lugeam make my heart with thine accord.
10. Fac, ut ardeat cor meum 10. Make me feel as thou has felt;
In amando Christum Deum make my soul to glow and melt
Ut sibi complaceam with the love of Christ our Lord.
11. Sancta Mater, istud agas, 11. Holy Mother, pierce me through;
Crucifixi fige plagas in my heart each wound renew
Cordi meo valide. of my Saviour crucified.
12. Tui nati vulnerati, 12. Let met share with thee his pain,
Tam dignati pro me pati, who for all my sins was slain,
Poenas mecum divide. who for me in torments died.
13. Fac me tecum, pie, flere, 13. Let me mingle tears with thee,
Crucifixo condolere, mourning Him Who mourned for me,
Donec ego vixero. all the days that I may live.
14. Iuxta crucem tecum stare, 14. By the cross with thee to stay,
Et me tibi sociare there with thee to weep and pray,
In planctu desidero this I ask of thee to give.
15. Virgo virginum praeclara, 15. Virgin, of all virgins blest,
Mihi iam non sis amara O refuse not my request:
Fac me tecum plangere let me in thy weeping share
16. Fac, ut portem Christi mortem 16. Let me, to my latest breath,
Passionis fac consortem, in my body bear the death
Et plagas recolere. of that dying Son of thine.
17. Fac me plagis vulnerari, 17. Wounded with his every wound,
Fac me cruce inebriari, steep my soul till it hath swooned
Et cruore Filii in His very blood away.
18. Flammis ne urar succensus 18. Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Per Te, Virgo, sim defensus lest in flames I burn and die,
In die iudicii in that awful judgment day.
19. Christe, cum sit hinc exire, 19. Christ, when thou shalt call me hence,
Da per Matrem me venire be Thy mother my defense,
Ad palmam victoriae be Thy cross my victory.
20. Quando corpus morietur, 20. While my body here decays,
Fac, ut animae donetur may my soul Thy goodness praise,
Paradisi gloria. Amen safe in Paradise with Thee. Amen.
