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...
Happy Easter! This week marks the beginning of the Easter Season. For the next fifty days (culminating on the Pentecost), the noon time prayer to our Blessed Mother changes from the Angelus to Regina Caeli. The latter speaks of the joy of our dear Blessed Mother to the glorious resurrection of his son Jesus Christ from the dead.
I've sang two versions of this song when I was starting out as a choir member. I sang this with a group of all female vocalists and this was one of the songs we'd sing during the Easter Vigil. I had a hard time looking for the specific version that I like on the Internet. I didn't know the name of the composer then. But after trying every combination of search words on Google, I finally found the version I was looking for--Antonio Lotti.
Antonio Lotti was born at Venice in 1667; died there, 5 January, 1740 and studied under Legrenzi, producing an opera, "Il Giustino", in his sixteenth year. On 31 May, 1692, he was appointed second organist of St. Mark's, and on 17 August, 1704, he succeeded Spada as first organist. On 2 April, 1736, he was elected maestro di cappella, though Pollarolo, Porpora, and Porta were formidable rivals for the much-coveted post, with a salary of 400 ducats. Between the years 1703 and 1730 he composed numerous masses and motets, especially his "Miserere", which supplanted the version of Legrenzi and is still sung at St. Mark's on Holy Thursday. Lotti also composed twenty-seven operas (1693-1717), and he spent two years at Dresden, producing various works. After his return to Venice, in November, 1719, he gave up secular writing, and devoted himself solely to church and chamber music. via Catholic Encyclopedia
In this rendition, the choir is accompanied by organ. This song could also be sung a capella style. I like this version of Regina Caeli because its tone is a combination of solemn soft tones and grand celebration style tones. Hope you enjoy this video. Happy Easter once again!
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.
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.
I couldn't think of any other way to start the New Year than to pause and reflect on the Solemnity of the Motherhood of Mary.
In 2009, while preparing for my trip to Spain with my choir, I did my research on our destination which was Torrevieja. The first thing I sought was a church and I was not disappointed. Prayer time is important to me. During our European tour (we went to Austria and Germany too), I knew that I could easily find a church. But how I actually found it is even astounding to me. It was my first time to go to Spain, but one could find their way around if they know how to look--asking directions would be the direct way! So my friend and I asked for instructions on how to go to the city proper of Torrevieja. I asked if the church is along the bus route. True enough, it was!
The Plaza in front of the church
Drawing closer to the church...
This post is dedicated to the Blessed Mother Mary--mother of Jesus Christ. Oh how I'd love to sing and bask in the presence of the Mother of God! I am speechless and humbled before the Gracious Lady. Admittedly, when I took the picture below, I was shaking in awestruck at one of the most beautiful images of our Blessed Mother.
Our Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion, Torrevieja, Spain
An Image of Our Lady taken from the Diocesan Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus -- where I went to church this morning. :)
In honoring Mary, we also honor the Lord Jesus Christ. Her grace comes from her own Son and it is quite impossible to speak about Mary without reference to Jesus Christ. Since we have come towards the end of Christmas celebration, there is one song that I'll always cherish that pertains to the birth of Jesus--O Magnum Mysterium. The version that you will listen to is composed by Javier Busto. There are other renditions of this beautiful song but I like this version because the "Alleluia" at the end just takes one's breath away! The song begins with the choir "whispering"--O Magnum Mysterium--but if you listen closely, you will realize that this is not just some fancy whispering. Without further adieu, in honor of Jesus and his mother Mary, here is the song O Magnum Mysterium.
Latin text
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Jesum Christum.
Alleluia.
English translation
O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
Jesus Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!
