TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS

Emendemus in melius — Byrd

Emendemus in melius quae ignoranter peccavimus; ne subito praeoccupati die mortis, quaeramus spatium poenitentiae, et invenire non possimus.

Attende, Domine, et miserere; quia peccavimus tibi.

Adiuva nos, Deus salutaris noster, et propter honorem nominis tui libera nos.

—Matins respond, first Sunday of Lent

O Lord, make thy servant Elizabeth — Byrd

Let us amend the sins that in our ignorance we have committed: lest the day of death come upon us suddenly, and we find no place for repentance, though we seek it.

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against thee. Help us, O God of our salvation: for the glory of thy Name deliver us.

O Lord, make thy servant Elizabeth our Queen to rejoice in thy strength: give her her heart’s desire, and deny not the request of her lips; but prevent her with thine everlasting blessing, and give her a long life, e’en for ever and ever. Amen.

—Adapted from Psalm 121 for Elizabeth I

Sing joyfully — Byrd

Sing joyfully unto God our strength; sing loud unto the God of Jacob! Take the song, and bring forth the timbrel, the pleasant harp, and the viol. Blow the trumpet in the new moon, even in the time appointed, and at our feast day. For this is a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

—Psalm 81:1–4

Nunc Dimittus from “Great Service” — Byrd

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

—Luke 2:29–31

Vide Domine afflictionem nostram — Byrd

Vide Domine afflictionem nostram, et in tempore maligno ne derelinquas nos.

Plusquam Hierusalem facta est deserta, civitas electa, gaudium cordis nostri, conversum est in luctum, et jocunditas nostra in amaritudinem conversa est.

Sed veni, Domine, et noli tardare, et revoca dispersos in civitatem tuam. Da nobis, Domine, pacem tuam diu desideratam, pax sanctissima, et miserere populi tui gementis et flentis, Domine Deus noster.

—Anonymous

Haec dies quam fecit Dominus — Byrd

Haec dies quam fecit Dominus; exsultemus et laetemur in ea. Alleluia.

—Psalm 117:24

Ne irascaris, Domine — Byrd

Ne irascaris, Domine satis, et ne ultra memineris iniquitatis nostrae. Ecce respice populus tuus omnes nos.

Civitas sancti tui facta est deserta.

Sion deserta facta est, Jerusalem desolata est.

—Isaiah 64:9–10

Behold O Lord our affliction, and in an evil time do not forsake us. How much more than when Jerusalem, the chosen city, was laid waste, is our hearts’ rejoicing turned to mourning, and our joy to bitterness.

But come O Lord and do not tarry, and call back the scattered ones into thy city. Give us O Lord thy peace daily desired, thy most holy peace, and have mercy on thy groaning and weeping people, O Lord our God. This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad on it. Alleluia.

Be not very angry, O Lord, and remember no longer our iniquity: Behold, see we are all thy people.

The city of thy sanctuary is become a desert, Sion is made desert, Jerusalem is desolate.

m BRIEF PAUSE n

Retire my soul — Byrd

Retire my soul, consider thine estate, And justly sum thy lavish sin’s account.

Time’s dear expense, and costly pleasures rate,

How follies grow, how vanities amount. Write all these down, in pale Death’s reckoning tables, Thy days will seem but dreams, thy hopes but fables.

Ave verum corpus — Byrd

Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria virgine. Vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine. Cuius latus perforatum unda fluxit sanguine. Esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine.

O dulcis, o pie, o Iesu, fili Mariae, miserere mei. Amen.

—Pope Innocent VI

Laudate Dominum, omnes gentes — Byrd

Laudate Dominum, omnes gentes; laudate eum, omnes populi. Quoniam confirmata est super nos misericordia eius, et veritas Domini manet in aeternum.

—Psalm 116

Optimam partem elegit — Byrd

Optimam partem elegit sibi Maria quae non auferetur ab ea in aeternum.

—Communion motet for Assumption

Factus est repente — Byrd

Factus est repente de coelo sonus, tamquam advenientis spiritus vehementis ubi erant sedentes, Alleluia; et repleti sunt omnes Spiritu Sancto, loquentes magnalia Dei, Alleluia.

—Communion motet for Pentecost

Agnus Dei — Byrd

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

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

—Mass Ordinary

Domine Dominus noster — Morley

Domine Dominus noster, quam admirabile est nomen tuum in universa terra.

—Psalm 8:1

—William Byrd

Hail, true body, born of the Virgin Mary; you who truly suffered and were sacrificed on the cross for the sake of man. From whose pierced flank flowed water and blood: be a foretaste for us in the trial of death.

O sweet, O merciful, O Jesus, Son of Mary, have mercy upon me. Amen.

Praise our Lord, all ye gentiles; praise him all ye people. Because his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth forever.

Mary has chosen for herself the best part which shall never be taken from her.

Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming where they were sitting. Alleluia. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking the wonderful works of God. Alleluia.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

O Lord our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth.

Ecce vicit Leo — Philips

Ecce vicit Leo de tribu Juda, radix David, aperire librum, et solvere septem signacula eius. Alleluia.

Dignus est Agnus qui occisus est, accipere virtutem, et divinitatem, et sapientiam, et fortitudinem, et honorem, et gloriam, et benedictionem. Alleluia.

—Revelation 5:5, 12

Too much I once lamented — Tomkins

Too much I once lamented, while love my heart tormented, fa la la la.

Alas, and ay me, sat I wringing, now chanting go, and singing, fa la la la.

Laudibus in sanctis — Byrd

—Anonymous

Laudibus in sanctis Dominum celebrate supremum: firmamenta sonent inclita facta Dei.

Inclita facta Dei cantate, sacraque potentis voce potestatem saepe sonate manus.

Magnificum Domini cantet tuba martia nomen:

Pieria Domino concelebrate lira.

Laude Dei resonent resonantia tympana summi:

Alta sacri resonent organa laude Dei.

Hunc arguta canant tenui psalteria corda, hunc agili laudet laeta chorea pede.

Concava divinas effundant cymbala laudes, Cymbala dulcisona laude repleta Dei.

Omne quod aethereis in mundo vescitur auris, Halleluia canat tempus in omne Deo.

—Adapted from Psalm 150

Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof. Alleluia.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and godliness, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. Alleluia.

Celebrate the Lord most high in holy praises: let the firmament resound with the glorious deeds of God. Sing of the glorious deeds of God, and with a sacred voice oft extol the power of his mighty hand.

Let the warlike trumpet sing the magnificent name of the Lord: give praises to the Lord with the Pierian lyre. Let the resounding timbrels echo with praise of the Lord most high: Let the organs sound with praise of holy God.

Let the harmonious psalteries with fine string sing of Him, Let the joyful dance praise Him with nimble foot. Let the hollow cymbals pour forth divine praises, the sweet-sounding cymbals filled with the praise of God. Let everything in the world which feeds upon the air of heaven, sing “Alleluia!” to God for evermore.