Lenten Concert

Texts & Translations

Peccantem me quotidie, Chant from the Office of the Dead
Peccantem me quotidie, nec me pænitentem, timor mortis conturbat me: quia in inferno nulla est redemptio, miserere mei, Deus, et salva me.

The fear of death frightens me, who sin every day and do not repent: because there is no redemption in hell, have mercy on me, O God, and save me.

Peccantem me quotidie, Claudio Merulo
Peccantem me quotidie et non pænitentem, timor mortis conturbat me: quia in inferno nulla est redemptio, miserere mei Deus, et salva me.

The fear of death frightens me, who sin every day and do not repent: because there is no redemption in hell, have mercy on me, O God, and save me.

Ave Verum Corpus, William Byrd
Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine, vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine: Cujus latus perforatum unda fluxit sanguine. Esto nobis prægustatum in mortis examine. O dulcis, O pie, O Jesu fili Mariæ, miserere mei. Amen.

Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary: truly sacrificed, surrendered on the cross for man: whose side, pierced, flowed with water and blood; be to us the foretaste at the trial of our death. O sweet, O loving, O Jesus, Son of Mary, have mercy on me. Amen.

Sancte Deus, Thomas Tallis
Sancte Deus, Sancte Fortis, Sancte et Immortalis: miserere nobis. Nunc, Christe, te petimus, miserere quæsumus. Qui venisti redimere perditos, noli damnare redemptos. Qui per crucem tuam redemisti mundum. Amen.

Holy God, Holy Strong One, Holy and Immortal One, have mercy on us. Now, O Christ, we beseech you and beg you to have mercy on us. You who came to redeem the lost, do not condemn those whom you have redeemed; you who, by your cross, have redeemed the world. Amen.

Hagios o Theos & Sanctus Deus, Chant from the Veneration of the Cross, Good Friday
Hagios o Theos. Sanctus Deus. Hagios Ischyros. Sanctus Fortis. Hagios Athanatos, eleison hymas. Sanctus Immortalis, miserere nobis.

Holy God. Holy Strong One. Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us.

Miserere mei, Deus, Gregorio Allegri
Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum dele iniquitatem meam. Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea, et a peccato meo munda me: Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: et peccatum meum contra me est semper. Tibi soli peccavi et malum coram te feci: ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris. Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea. Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: Incerta et occulta sapientiæ tuæ manifestasti mihi. Asperges me hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me et super nivem dealbabor. Auditui meo dabis gaudium et lætitiam: et exultabunt ossa humiliata. Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis: et omnes iniquitates meas dele. Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis. Ne projicias me a facie tua: et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me. Redde mihi lætitiam salutaris tui: et spiritu principali confirma me. Docebo iniquos vias tuas: et impii ad te convertentur. Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meæ: et exultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam. Domine, labia mea aperies: et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam. Quoniam si voluises sacrificium, dedissem utique: holocaustis non delectaberis. Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum et humiliatum Deus non despicies. Benigne fac Domine in bona voluntate tua Sion: ut ædificentur muri Jerusalem. Tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiæ, oblationes et holocausta. Tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your great loving kindness, and according to the multitude of your mercies, blot out my iniquity. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgression and my sin is ever before me. Against you only have I sinned and done evil in your sight: that you may be justified in your words and vindicated when you shall judge. For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. For behold, you have loved the truth; obscure and hidden elements of your wisdom you have made known to me. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. To my ears you will give joy and gladness, and my broken bones will rejoice. Turn your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with a steadfast spirit. I will teach sinners your ways, and the wicked shall be converted to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, God of my salvation, and my tongue will extol your justice. O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise. For if you had desired sacrifice, I would have given it; you will not delight in burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a humble and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Grant kindness to Zion, O Lord, according to your good pleasure; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up. Then you will accept the sacrifice of righteousness, the oblations and whole burnt offerings; then they will lay bullocks upon your altar.

Ego sum panis vivus, Juan Esquivel
Ego sum panis vivus qui de cælo descendi: si quis manducaverit ex hoc pane, vivet in æternum, in æternum. Alleluia.

I am the living bread which came down from heaven: whoever eats of this bread shall live forever. Alleluia.

I. Timor et tremor, Francis Poulenc
Timor et tremor venerunt super me, et caligo cecidit super me. Miserere mei, Domine, miserere mei quoniam in te confidit anima mea. V. Exaudi, Deus, deprecationem meam quia refugium meum es tu et adjutor fortis, Domine, invocavi te; non confundar.

Fear and trembling have come upon me; darkness has fallen on me. Have mercy on me, O Lord; have mercy on me, for my soul has trusted in thee. V. Hear my prayer, O God, for you are my refuge, and my strong helper. O Lord, I have called upon you; do not let me be confounded.

II. Vinea mea electa
Vinea mea electa, ego te plantavi: quomodo conversa es in amaritudinem, ut me crucifigeres et Barrabam dimitteres. V. Sepivi te et lapides elegi ex te et oedificavit turrim.

O my vine, my chosen one, I planted you. How have you been changed into bitterness, that you would crucify me and set Barabbas free? I built a fence around you and picked the stones from you and built a watchtower.

III. Tenebræ factæ sunt
Tenebræ factæ sunt dum crucifixissent Jesum Judaei: et circa horam nonam exclamavit Jesus voce magna: Deus meus, ut quid me dereliquisti? Et inclinato capite emisit spiritum. V. Exclamans Jesus voce magna, ait: Pater, in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum.

It became dark when the Jews had crucified Jesus. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice: “My God, why have you forsaken me?” And, bowing his head, he gave up his spirit. V. Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”

IV. Tristis est anima mea
Tristis est anima mea usque ad mortem: sustinete hic, et vigilate mecum: nunc videbitis turbam, quæ circumdabit me. Vos fugam capietis, et ego vadam immolari pro vobis. V. Ecce appropinquat hora et Filius hominis tradetur in manus peccatorum.

My soul is sorrowful even to death; stay with me here and watch with me; now you will see the crowd which will surround me. You arise and flee away, and I will go to be sacrificed for you. See now, the hour approaches and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Exaudi Domine, Giovanni Gabrieli
Exaudi, Domine, justitiam meam: intende deprecationem meam: auribus percipe orationem meam, non in labiis dolosis: laudabo te.

Listen, Lord, to my just plea: hear my cry; give ear to my prayer, which is not uttered with deceitful lips; I will praise you. (Ps. 17:1-11)

Gloriæ Dei Cantores makes its home at the Church of the Transfiguration (Orleans, MA) where the choir sings weekly worship services, seasonal concerts, and records throughout the year.