The inaugural concert in February 2008 was a wide-ranging programme of unaccompanied choral music, ranging from Thomas Whythorne (1528-1595) to Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), plus Bach (in German) and Saint-Saens (in French).

Sunday 24 February 2008
Barn Hill Methodist Church

Burghley Voices
Conducted by Fergus Black



Poster | Programme
___________________________________________________
Programme text follows:–

Programme

Three Five-part Madrigals from “The Triumphs of Oriana” 1601
All Creatures Now John Bennett
Come gentle swains Michael Cavendish
The Fauns and Satyrs Thomas Tomkins

Jesu Meine Freude BWV 227 by Johann Sebastian Bach 1985-1750
Jesu, meine Freude (1st verse of hymn - SATB)
Es ist nun nichts Verdammliches (Romans 8,1 und 8,4 - SSATB)
Unter deinem Schirmen (2nd verse of hymn - SATB)
Denn das Gesetz (à 3, Romans 8,2)
Trotz dem alten Drachen (3rd verse of hymn - SATB)
Ihr aber seid nicht fleischlich (Fugue, Romans 8,9)
Weg mit allen Schätzen (4th verse of hymn - SATB)
So aber Christus in euch ist (à 3, Romans 8,10)
Gute Nacht, o Wesen (à 4, 5th verse of hymn - SATB)
So nun der Geist (Romans 8,11)
Weicht, ihr Trauergeister (6th verse of hymn - SATB)

Four Songs by Thomas Whythorne 1528-1595
Though choler cleapt my heart about
The doubtful state that I possess
As thy shadow itself apply’th
I have this time heard many one say

Two Part-Songs Op 68 by Camille Saint-Saens 1835-1921
Calme de nuits
Les fleurs et les arbres

Choral Dances from “Gloriana” by Benjamin Britten 1913-1976
Time
Concord
Time and Concord
Country Girls
Rustics and Fisherman
Final Dance of Homage

Translations

Jesu, meine Freude BWV 227 : J.S. Bach

“Jesu, meine Freude,” Johann Frank 1650 (movts. 1,3,5,7,9,11)
Romans 8:1-2,9-11 (movts. 2,4,6,8,10)

1.Chorale (“Jesu, meine Freude,” verse 1)
Jesu, meine Freude,
meines Herzens Weide,
Jesu, meine Zier!
Ach wie lang, ach lange,
ise dem Herzen bange
und verlangt nach dir!
Gottes Lamm, mein Bräutigam,
außer dir soll mir auf Erden
nichts sonst Liebers werden.

1. Chorale
Jesus, my joy,
my heart’s pasture,
Jesus, my treasure!
Ah, how long, ah long
has my heart suffered
and longed for you!
God’s lamb, my bridegroom,
besides You on earth
nothing shall be dearer to me.

2. Chor (Romans 8:1)
Es ist nun nichts Verdammliches an denen, die in Christo Jesu sind, die nicht nach dem Fleische wandeln, sondern nach dem Geist.

2. Chorus
Now there is nothing damnable in those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk after the way of the flesh, but after the way of the Spirit.

3. Choral (“Jesu, meine Freude,” verse 2)
Unter deinen Schirmen
Bin ich für den Stürmen
Aller Feinde frei.
Laß den Satan wittern,
Laß den Feind erbittern,
Mir steht Jesus bei.
Ob es itzt gleich kracht und blitzt,
Ob gleich Sünd und Hölle schrecken,
Jesus will mich decken.
3. Chorale
Under your protection
I am safe from the storms
of all enemies.
Let Satan rage,
let the enemy fume,
Jesus stands with me.
Whether now it thunders and flashes,
whether sin and Hell terrify,
Jesus will protect me.

4. Chor (Romans 8:2)
Denn das Gesetz des Geistes, der da lebendig machet in Christo Jesu, hat mich frei gemacht von dem Gesetz der Sünde und des Todes.
4. Chorus
For the law of the spirit, which gives life in Christ Jesus,
has made me free from the law of sin and death.
5. Choral (“Jesu, meine Freude,” verse 3)
Trotz dem alten Drachen,
trotz des Todes Rachen,
trotz der Furcht dazu!
Tobe, Welt, und springe;
ich steh hier und singe
in gar sichrer Ruh!
Gottes Macht hält mich in acht;
Erd und Abgrund muß verstummen,
ob sie noch so brummen.

5. Chorale
Defiance to the old dragon,
defiance to the vengeance of death,
defiance to fear as well!
Rage, world, and attack;
I stand here and sing
in entirely secure peace!
God’s strength holds me in watch;
earth and abyss must fall silent,
however much they might rumble.

6. Chor (Romans 8:9)
Ihr aber seid nicht fleischlich, sondern geistlich, so anders Gottes Geist in euch wohnet. Wer aber Christi Geist nicht hat, der ist nicht sein.
6. Chorus
You, however, are not of the flesh, but rather of the Spirit, since the Spirit of God lives otherwise in you. Anyone, however, who does not have Christ’s Spirit, is not His.
7. Chorale (“Jesu, meine Freude,” verse 5)
Weg mit allen Schätzen,
du bist mein Ergötzen,
Jesu, meine Lust!
Weg, ihr eitlen Ehren,
ich mag euch nicht hören,
bleibt mir unbewußt!
Elend, Not, Kreuz, Schmach und Tod
soll mich, ob ich viel muß leiden,
nicht von Jesu scheiden.
7. Chorale
Away with all treasures,
you are my delight,
Jesus, my joy!
Away, you vain honors,
I don’t want to listen to you,
remain unknown to me!
Misery, want, torture, shame and death
shall, although I must suffer much,
never part me from Jesus.

8. Chor (Romans 8:10)
So aber Christus in euch ist, so ist der Leib zwar tot um der Sünde willen; der Geist aber ist das Leben um der Gerechtigkeit willen.
8. Chorus
However if Christ is in you, then the body is dead indeed for the sake of sin; but the spirit is life for the sake of righteousness.

9. Chorale (“Jesu, meine Freude,” verse 6)
Gute Nacht, o Wesen,
Das die Welt erlesen!
Mir gefällst du nicht.
Gute Nacht, ihr Sünden,
Bleibet weit dahinten,
Kommt nicht mehr ans Licht!
Gute Nacht, du Stolz und Pracht!
Dir sei ganz, du Lasterleben,
Gute Nacht gegeben!

9. Chorale
Good night, existence
that cherishes the world!
You do not please me.
Good night, sins,
stay far away,
never again come to light!
Good night, pride and glory!
To you utterly, life of corruption,
be good night given!

10. Chor (Romans 8:11)
So nun der Geist des, der Jesum von den Toten auferwecket hat, in euch wohnet, so wird auch derselbige, der Christum von den Toten auferwecket hat, eure sterblichen Leiber lebendig machen, um des willen, daß sein Geist in euch wohnet.

10. Chorus
Therefore now since the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, that same who raised Christ from the dead will make your mortal bodies living, for the sake of His spirit that dwells in you.

11. Chorale (“Jesu, meine Freude,” verse 7)
Weicht, ihr Trauergeister,
denn mein Freudenmeister,
Jesus, tritt herein.
Denen, die Gott lieben,
muß auch ihr Betrüben
lauter Zucker sein.
Duld’ ich schon hier Spott und Hohn,
dennoch bleibst du auch im Leide,
Jesu, meine Freude.

11. Chorale
Hence, you spirits of sadness,
for my Master of joy,
Jesus, comes here.
For those who love God,
even their troubles
must be pure sugar.
Though I endure mockery and shame here already,
nevertheless you stay with me even in sorrow,
Jesus, my joy.

Two Part-Songs Op 68 by Camille Saint-Saens 1835-1921
Calmes des nuits, fraicheur des soirs,
Vaste scintillement des mondes,
Grand silence des antres noirs
Vous charmez les âmes profondes.
L’éclat du soleil, la gaité,
Le bruit plaisent aux plus futiles;
Le poéte seul est hanté
Par l’amour des choses tranquiles.

Stillness of the night, cool of the evening,
Vast shimmering of the spheres,
Great silence of black vaults
Deep thinkers delight in you.
The bright sun, merriment,
And noise amuse the more frivolous;
Only the poet is possessed
By the love of quiet things.

Les fleurs et les arbres,
Les bronzes, les marbres,
Les ors, les émaux.
La mer, les fontaines,
Les monts et les plaines
Consolent nos maux.
Nature éternelle
Tu sembles plus belle
Au sein des douleurs!
Et l’art nous domine,
Sa flamme illumine
Le rire et les pleurs.


The flowers and the trees,
the metals, the marbles,
the golds, enamels, [all the painted colors on the meadows],
the sea, the fountains (waterfalls),
the mountains, the plains,
console our pain.
Nature eternal
you appear more beautiful
to a suffering heart
and art dominates us -
its flame lights
both laughter and tears.

Singers

1st Sopranos
Judy Blakeborough
Helen Didsbury
Janet Johnson
Jan Marshall

2nd Sopranos
Dot Bassett
Alison Lewis
Audrey Sawyer

Altos
Fiona Ayres
Helen Black
Barbara Tomlinson
Teena Twelves


Tenors
Kenneth Court
Julian Kelsey
Bill Proudlock
John Pye

Basses
Martin Barker
Phil Hawkins*
Phil McCrone
Goran Radiç*
Les Thiselton

Conductor
Fergus Black

* guest

A concert of unaccompanied Elizabethan choral music, sacred and secular, in the Great Hall of Burghley House

with Anna Belson - soprano
and Michael Harrison - reader

Poster | Programme
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Programme text follows:–

William BYRD (1543-1623) Mass for Four Voices (1593)
Kyrie and Gloria

Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.

Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Domine Deus rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili Unigenite, Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis. Quoniam tu solus sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise Thee; we bless Thee; we worship Thee; we glorify Thee. We give Thee thanks for Thy great glory: O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty. O Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son. O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, Thou, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Thou Who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou Who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For Thou alone art holy; Thou alone
art the Lord; Thou alone, O Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the
Father. Amen.

Thomas TALLIS (1505-1585)
Three Latin Anthems from “Cantiones Sacrae” 1575

1. Salvator mundi

Salvator mundi, salva nos,
qui per crucem et sanguinem redemisti nos,
auxiliare nobis, te deprecamur, Deus noster.
Saviour of the world, save us,
who through thy cross and blood didst redeem us:
help us, we beseech thee, our God.
Antiphon at Holy Unction, BCP

8. O nata lux

O nata lux de lumine,
Jesu redemptor saeculi,
Dignare clemens supplicum
Laudes precesque sumere.
Qui carne quondam contegi
Dignatus es pro perditis,
Nos membra confer effici
Tui beati corporis.

O Light born of Light,
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
with loving-kindness deign to receive
suppliant praise and prayer.
Thou who once deigned to be clothed in flesh
for the sake of the lost,
grant us to be members
of thy blessed body.
10th century hymn.

14. Dum Transisset
Dum transisset Sabbatum, Maria Magdalene, et Maria Jacobi, et Salome emerunt aromata, ut venientes unguerent Jesum. Alleluia.
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James,
and Salome brought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.
Alleluia.

Readings
by Michael Harrison
Extracts from Isaiah chapter 40 (Coverdale)

BYRD Consort songs (dates unknown)
sung by Anna Belson - soprano

1. In angel’s weed I saw a noble Queen
Above the skies in sphere of crystal bright,
Who here on earth not long before was seen
Of divers heinous crimes to be indict,
By false suspect and jealousy of those
Whom fear had wrought to be her mortal foes.

2. O Lord, how vain are all our frail delights;
how mix’d with sour the sweet of our desire;
how subject oft to Fortune’s subtle slights;
how soon consum’d like snow against the fire.
Sith in this life our pleasures all be vain,
O lord, grant me that I may them disdain.

What prince so great as doth not seem to want;
what man so rich but still doth covet more;
to whom so large was ever Fortune’s grant
as for to have a quiet mind in store.
Sith in this life our pleasures all be vain
O Lord, grant me that I may them disdain.
possibly by Sir Philip Sidney

BYRD Mass for four voices
Credo
Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium; Et in unum Dominum, Iesum Christum,
filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula; Deum de Deo, Lumen de Lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero, genitum non factum, consubstantialem Patri, per quem omnia facta sunt; Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est; Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est; et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas; et ascendit in caelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris; et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos, cuius regni non erit finis; Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem, qui ex Patri Filioque procedit; qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur; qui locutus est per prophetas; Et unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum, et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages; God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father; through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation descended from the heavens, and was made flesh by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. He was also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; suffered, and was buried; on the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, of Whose kingdom there shall be no end; And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son; Who, together with the Father and the Son, is worshipped and glorified; Who has spoken through the Prophets. And in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins, and I await the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

TALLIS English Hymns and Anthems
Hymns from Archbishop Parker’s Psalter 1567

1. Man blest no doubt who walk’th not out in wicked men’s affairs,
and stand’th no day in sinner’s way nor sitt’th in scorner’s chairs;
but hath his will in God’s law still, this law to love aright,
and will him use, on it to muse, to keep it day and night.

2. Let God arise in majesty and scatter’d be his foes.
Yea, flee they all his sight in face, to him which hateful goes.
As smoke is driv’n and com’th to naught, repulse their tyranny.
At face of fire, as wax doth melt, God’s face the bad must fly.

If ye love me (probably around 1546-48)
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father,
and he will give you another Comforter,
that he may bide with you for ever;
e’en the Spirit of truth.
Communion Antiphon for the Sixth Sunday of Easter.
Text from the Bible, John 14: 15-17.

Hymn 3. Why fum’th in sight the gentiles spite, in fury raging stout?
Why tak’th in hand the people fond, vain things to bring about?
The kings arise, the lords devise, in counsels met thereto,
against the Lord with false accord, against his Christ they go.

BYRD Consort song
sung by Anna Belson - soprano

Ye sacred Muses, race of Jove,
whom music’s lore delighteth,
come down, come down from crystal heav’ns above,
to earth, where sorrow dwelleth.
In mourning weeds, with tears in eyes,
Tallis is dead, and music dies.

BYRD Mass for Four Voices

Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei ... dona nobis pacem.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts. The heavens and the earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He Who cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God ... grant us peace.
_________
INTERVAL

Please enjoy a glass of wine with us
_________

John Dowland (1563-1626) First Booke of Songes or Ayres, 1597

1 Unquiet thoughts
Unquiet thoughts, your civil slaughter stint
And wrap your wrongs within a pensive heart.
And you my tongue that makes my mouth a mint,
And stamps my thoughts to coin them words by art.

6 Now O Now (The Frog Galliard)
Now, oh, now I needs must part,
Parting tho’ I absent mourn;
Abscence can no joy impart;
Joy once fled cannot return.
While I live I needs must love;
Love lives not when hope is gone,
Now at last despair doth prove:
Love divided loveth none.
Sad despair doth drive me hence
This despair unkindness sends.
If that parting be offence,
It is she which then offends.
Dear when I am from thee gone,
Gone are all my joys at once!
I love thee and thee alone,
In whose love I joyed once.
And altho’ your sight I leave,
Sight wherein my joys do lie,
Till that death do sense bereave,
Never shall affection die.
Sad despair …

17 Come again
Come again,
sweet love doth now invite,
thy graces that refrain
to do me due delight.
To see, to hear,
to touch, to kiss,
to die with thee again
in sweetest sympathy

Come again,
that I may cease to mourn
through thy unkind disdain
for now left and forlorn.
I sit, I sigh,
I weep, I faint,
I die, in deadly pain
and endless misery

Gentle love,
draw forth thy wounding dart:
Thou canst not pierce her heart;
For I that do approve.
By sighs and tears
more hot than are
thy shafts did tempt, while she
for triumph laughs.

BYRD Consort Song
sung by Anna Belson - soprano

My mistress had a little dog whose name was Pretty Royal,
Who neither hunted sheep nor hog, but was without denial
A tumbler fine, that might be seen to wait upon a fairy queen.
Upon his mistress he would wait in courteous wise and humble,
And with his craft and false deceit, when she would have him tumble,
Of coneys in the pleasant prime, he would kill twenty at a time.

The goddess which Diana hight among her beagles dainty
Had not a hound so fair and white, nor graced with such beauty;
And yet his beauty was not such, but his conditions were as rich.

But out, alas? I’ll speak no more. My heart with grief doth shake;
This pretty dog was wounded sore e’en for his mistress sake:
A beastly man or manly beast knock’d out his brains and so I rest.

A trial royal, royal a trial, a trial! O yes!
Ye hounds and beagles all, if ye sat in Appleton Hall:
Would you not judge that out of doubt Tyburn were fit for such a lout?

Thomas Morley canzonets

Though Philomela 1602
Though Philomela lost her love,
Fresh note she warbleth, yes again, Fa la la la la.
He is a fool that lovers prove;
And leaves to sing, to live in pain.Fa la la la la.

See mine own 1593
See, see, mine own sweet jewel,
See what I have here for my darling:
A robin-redbreast and a starling.
These I give both, in hope to move thee--
And yet thou say’st I do not love thee.

It was a lover (arr. E. W. Naylor), 1595
It was a lover, and his lass,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino.
That o’er the green cornfields did pass,
In springtime, the only pretty ring-time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding a ding,
sweet lovers love the spring.

Between the acres of the rye
With a hey …
These pretty country folks would lie,
In springtime…

And therefore take the present time,
With a hey …
For love is crownèd with the prime.
In springtime,…

Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623)
Ballets and Madrigals 1598

All at Once Well Met
All at once well met fair ladies,
Sing we now our love repaid is. Fa la.
Sweet hearts do not forsake us
Till night to sleep betake us. Fa la.

Cytherea shall requite you,
With delight lest sorrow fright you. Fa la.
Then help ye dainty ladies
To sing our love repaid is. Fa la.

Sweet Love
Sweet love I will no more abuse thee,
Nor with my voice accuse thee,
But tune thy notes unto thy praise,
And tell the world love ne’er decays.
Sweet love doth concord cherish,
What wanteth concord soon doth perish.

On the Plains
On the plains, fairy trains were atreading measures,
Satyrs play’d, fairies stay’d, at the stops set leisures.
Fa la la.
Nymphs begin to come in quickly, thick and three-fold:
Now they dance, now they prance, present there to behold.
Fa la la la.

Readings
by Michael Harrison
Shakespeare Sonnets 18 and 116
Polonius speeches from Hamlet

Byrd Psalmes, sonets, & songs, 1588

No. 29 Susanna
Susanna fair some time assaulted was
By two old men desiring their delight,
Whose false intent they thought to bring to pass
If not by tender love, by force and might.
To whom she said: If I your suit deny,
You will me falsely accuse, and make me die.

And if I grant to that which you request,
My chastity shall then deflowered be,
Which is so dear to me that I detest
My life, if it berefted be from me:
And rather would I die of mine accord
Ten thousand times, than once offend the Lord.

No.12 Though Amaryllis
1. Though Amarillis daunce in green,
like Fayrie Queene,
and sing full cleere,
Corina can with smiling cheer:
yet since their eyes make hart so sore,
hey ho, chill love no more.

2. My sheepe are lost for want of food,
and I so wood:
that all the day,
I sit and watch a heardmaid gaye:
who laughes to see mee sigh so sore,
hey ho, chill love no more.

3. Love yee who list I force him not,
sith God it wot,
the more I wayle,
the lesse my sighes and teares prevaile,
what shall I doe but say therefore,
hey ho, chill love no more.


About Burghley Voices

The group of about 20 singers is based in Stamford, South Lincolnshire, and performs an eclectic and diverse range of music, under its conductor, Fergus Black. The inaugural concert in February 2008 included madrigals and part songs, ranging from Thomas Whythorne (1528-1595) to Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), plus Bach, in German and Saint-Saens, in French.

The choir is project-based. A small number of rehearsals are scheduled ahead for each concert and singers prepare the music in advance.

Sopranos
Judy Blakeborough
Helen Didsbury
Jan Marshall
Dot Bassett
Alison Lewis
Joy Pye
Anna Belson

Altos
Fiona Ayres
Helen Black
Barbara Tomlinson
Teena Twelves

Tenors
Julian Kelsey
Bill Proudlock
John Pye

Basses
Bartosz Drzewiecki
Steve Jones
Phil McCrone
Goran Radiç

Conductor
Fergus Black

2008 Duruflé Requiem and Allegri Miserere

A liturgical performance of the Duruflé in All Saints Church in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, for All Souls Day.
A concert for Music at St Martin’s in Stamford, for Remembrance Day, together with other works by Alan Gray and Charles Villiers Stanford.

Burghley Voices
The Hurstingstone Singers
The Moonlighters

Paul Parsons - Conductor (Allegri and Stanford)
Fergus Black - Conductor (Gray and Duruflé)


Paul Parsons - Organ
Anna Belson - Soprano (Allegri)
Caroline Lytle - Mezzo-Soprano (Duruflé)
David Yeandle - Baritone (Duruflé)
Robert Saunders - Reader

Poster | Programme
___________________________________________________
Programme text follows:–

Miserere - Gregorio Allegri (1582 – 1652)

Allegri’s famous Miserere is a setting of Psalm 51. It was probably composed during the 1630s, for use in the Sistine Chapel during matins in Holy Week. It was one of twelve falsobordone Miserere settings composed and chanted at the services since 1514 and the most popular: at some point, it became forbidden to transcribe the music and it was only allowed to be performed at those particular services, adding to the mystery surrounding it. The setting that escaped from the Vatican is actually a conflation of verses set by Gregorio Allegri around 1638 and Tommaso Bai (1650 - 1718) in 1714.

Miserere mei, Deus: secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness:
Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.
According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: et peccatum meum contra me est semper.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci: ut iustificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum iudicaris.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Ecce enim in inquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: incerta et occulta sapientiae tuae manifestasti mihi.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Auditui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam: et exsultabunt ossa humiliata.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis: et omnes iniquitates meas dele.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Ne proiicias me a facie tua: et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Redde mihi laetitiam salutaris tui: et spiritu principali confirma me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Docebo iniquos vias tuas: et impii ad te convertentur.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meae: et exsultabit lingua mea iustitiam tuam.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
Domine, labia mea aperies: et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique: holocaustis non delectaberis.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum, et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion: ut aedificentur muri Ierusalem.
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Tunc acceptabis sacrificium iustitiae, oblationes, et holocausta: tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.
Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Translation (King James Bible)

Three Motets - Charles Stanford (1852 - 1924)
performed by The Hurstingstone Singers and The Moonlighters

The Three motets, Op.38 for unaccompanied choir were published in 1905 but probably date from 1892, the year in which Stanford gave up his post as organist of Trinity College, Cambridge. The motets are dedicated to his successor, Alan Gray, and the college choir, and are amongst the finest of his choral compositions.


Justorum animae in manu Dei sunt,
et non tanget illos tormentum mortis.
Visi sunt oculis insipientium mori,
illi autem sunt in pace
Wisdom 3:1-2a,3b


The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and the torment of death shall not touch them.
In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die;
but they are in peace.
Coelos ascendit hodie
Jesus Christus Rex Gloriae:
Sedet ad Patris dexteram,
Gubernat coelum et terram.
Iam finem habent omnia
Patris Davidis carmina.
Iam Dominus cum Domino
Sedet in Dei solio:
In hoc triumpho maximo
Benedicamus Domino.
Laudetur Sancta Trinitas,
Deo dicamus gratias,
Alleluia. Amen.

Beati quorum via integra est,
qui ambulant in lege Domini.
Psalm 119:1
Today into the heavens has ascended
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, Alleluia!
He sits at the Father’s right hand,
and rules heaven and earth, Alleluia!
Now have been fulfilled all of
Father David’s songs,
Now God is with God, Alleluia!
He sits upon the royal throne of God,
in this his greatest triumph, Alleluia!
Let us bless the Lord:
Let the Holy Trinity be praised,
let us give thanks to the Lord,
Alleluia! Amen.

Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
who walk in the law of the Lord.

1914 - Alan Gray (1855-1935)
performed by Burghley Voices

Alan Gray, who succeeded Stanford as Organist of Trinity College, Cambridge, stayed there for 37 years. Rupert Brooke, the author of The War Sonnets, was a student at Cambridge at this time. Gray wrote a quantity of church and organ music, some of which is due for revival.

I. Peace
Now, God be thanked Who has matched us with His hour,
And caught our youth, and wakened us from sleeping,
With hand made sure, clear eye, and sharpened power,
To turn, as swimmers into cleanness leaping,
Glad from a world grown old and cold and weary,
Leave the sick hearts that honour could not move,
And half-men, and their dirty songs and dreary,
And all the little emptiness of love!
Oh! we, who have known shame, we have found release there,
Where there’s no ill, no grief, but sleep has mending,
Naught broken save this body, lost but breath;
Nothing to shake the laughing heart’s long peace there
But only agony, and that has ending;
And the worst friend and enemy is but Death.

II. Safety
(read)

III. The Dead
Blow out, you bugles, over the rich Dead!
There’s none of these so lonely and poor of old,
But, dying, has made us rarer gifts than gold.
These laid the world away; poured out the red
Sweet wine of youth; gave up the years to be
Of work and joy, and that unhoped serene,
That men call age; and those who would have been,
Their sons, they gave, their immortality.
Blow, bugles, blow! They brought us, for our dearth,
Holiness, lacked so long, and Love, and Pain.
Honour has come back, as a king, to earth,
And paid his subjects with a royal wage;
And nobleness walks in our ways again;
And we have come into our heritage.

IV. The Dead
(read)

V. The Soldier
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England’s, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

INTERVAL

Requiem, Op. 9 - Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)
The Requiem was commissioned in 1947 by the French music publisher Durand and is written in memory of the composer’s father. The strength of Duruflé’s composition lies in its extraordinary fusion of disparate elements - plainsong, liturgical modality, subtle counterpoint, and the sensuous harmonies and refined scoring . It creates a spiritual tranquillity leading worshippers into the peace and fulfilment of eternity.

“My Requiem is built entirely from the Gregorian themes of the Mass for the Dead. At times the text is paramount, and therefore the accompaniment intervenes only to sustain or to comment; at other times an original musical fabric, inspired by the text, takes over completely... In general, I have attempted to penetrate to the essence of Gregorian style and have tried to reconcile as far as possible the very flexible Gregorian rhythms... with the exigencies of modern notation.”
Maurice Duruflé

I. INTROIT
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine,
Rest eternal grant them, Lord,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
and may perpetual light shine on them.
Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion,
To you praise is meet, God, in Zion,
et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem.
and to you vows are made in Jerusalem.
Exaudi orationem meam,
Listen to my prayer;
ad te onmis caro veniet.
unto you all flesh shall come.

II. KYRIE
Kyrie, eleison. Lord, have mercy.
Christe, eleison. Christ, have mercy.
Kyrie, eleison. Lord, have mercy.

III. DOMINE JESU CHRISTE
Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, Lord, Jesus Christ, King of glory
libera animas omnium fidelium free the souls of all the faithful
defunctorum de poenis inferni, dead from the pains of hell,
et de profundo lacu. and the deep lake.
Libera eas de ore leonis, Deliver them from the lion’s mouth,
ne absorbeat eas tartarus, lest the abyss swallow them up,
ne cadant in obscurum. Lest they fall into darkness.
Sed signifer sanctus Michael But may the standardbearer St. Michael
repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam, lead them into holy light,
quam olim Abrahae promisisti as once you promised to Abraham
et semini ejus. and his seed.
Hostias et preces tibi, Sacrifices and prayers to you,
Domine, laudis offerimus Lord, we offer with praise.
Tu suscipe pro animabus illis, Receive them for the souls of those
quarum hodie memoriam facimus. whom today we commemorate.
Fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam, Make them, Lord, to pass from death to life,
quam olim Abrahae promisisti, as once you promised to Abraham
et semini ejus. and his seed.

IV. SANCTUS
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Holy, holy, holy
Dominus Deus Sabaoth Lord God of Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. The heavens and earth and full of your glory.
Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in the highest.
Benedictus qui venit Blessed is he who comes
in nomine Domini. in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in the highest.

V. PIE JESU
Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem, Merciful Lord Jesus, grant them rest,
requiem sempiternam. rest everlasting.

VI. AGNUS DEI
Agnus Dei Lamb of God
qui tollis peccata mundi, who takes away the sins of the world,
dona eis requiem, requiem sempiternam. grant them rest, rest everlasting.

VII. LUX AETERNA
Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine, May eternal light shine on them, Lord,
cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, with thy saints everlasting,
quia pius es. because you are merciful.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, Rest eternal grant them, Lord,
et lux perpetua luceat eis. and may perpetual light shine on them.

VIII. LIBERA ME
Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna, Deliver me, Lord, from eternal death,
in die illa tremenda, on that dreadful day,
quando coeli movendi sunt et terra, when heavens and earth shall move,
dum veneris judicare when you come to judge
saeculum per ignem. the world through fire.
Tremens factus sum ego, et timeo, I am made to tremble, and to fear,
dum discussio venerit, at the destruction that shall come,
atque ventura ira, and also at your coming wrath,
quando coeli movendi sunt et terra. when heavens and earth shall move.
Dies illa, dies irae, calamitatis et miseriae, That day, day of wrath, calamity and misery,
dies magna et amara valde great and exceedingly bitter day
dum veneris judicare when you come to judge
saeculum per ignem. the world through fire.
Requiem aeternam Rest eternal
dona eis, Domine, grant them, Lord,
et lux perpetua luceat eis. and may perpetual light shine on them.

IX. IN PARADISUM
In Paradisum deducant te Angeli; May Angels lead you into paradise;
in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres, at your coming may the martyrs receive you,
et perducant te in civitatem sanctum, and conduct you into the holy city,
Jersualem. Jerusalem.
Chorus Angelorum te suscipiant, May the chorus of Angels receive you,
et cum Lazaro quondam paupere and with Lazarus, once a pauper,
aeternam habeas requiem. may you have eternal rest.

_____________________________________________________________________

Burghley Voices is a small vocal group, based in Stamford, South Lincolnshire. They perform an eclectic and diverse range of music, under their conductor, Fergus Black. The inaugural concert in February 2008 included madrigals and part songs, ranging from Thomas Whythorne (1528-1595) to Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), plus Bach in German and Saint-Saens, in French. For the next concert, please see the advertisement in the programme.

The Hurstingstone Singers take their name from the ancient Saxon Hundred that
incorporated much of modern Huntingdon, Ramsey and St Ives: it is in this area
that most of the singers live. The group is directed by Paul Parsons, and was formed at the end of 2007, to give performances on an intimate scale of sacred and secular choral music, mainly of the renaissance and early baroque.

The Moonlighters are a group of around a dozen amateur choral singers, directed
by Paul Parsons. They were formed in 1991 and won prizes at the Bedfordshire
Music Festival in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002. Since then they have concentrated on
improving their technique and increasing their repertoire. This now includes a
mixture of swing and blues from the 30’s 40’s and 50’s, traditional folk songs,
spirituals, choral pieces and anything else that takes their fancy.

Durufle programme
Duruflé poster