Program Notes
Welcome to A Ladymass for Advent! Our concert tonight represents a special blend of three diverse English repertoires, which together constitute an entire musical liturgy for Easter mass. The earliest musical layer is Gregorian chant, including items from the propers for a Saturday Advent Mass in veneration of the Virgin Mary, as celebrated in one of the side chapels at Salisbury Cathedral in the fourteenth century. The rites at Salisbury are extraordinarily well-documented, and we have available to us detailed descriptions not only of the music itself, but of the movement and ritual which accompanied the celebration of mass. We draw from the Salisbury repertoire the simple tones for the Collect, Epistle, Gospel, Preface and Postcommunion, and responses and dialogs which knit the mass together.
The second musical layer in our
concert is a set of Propers for Advent Ladymass by William Byrd (1543-1623).
Byrd was concerned throughout his career to provide repertoire for the Catholic
service, which of course was officially outlawed at the time in
Each of the Advent Ladymass Propers is composed for five voices, in a full-blown Renaissance contrapuntal style, with special attention given to the meaning of the words. The Annunciation story forms the core of this service, and Byrd seems to have been especially inspired by the texts alluding to this event. Particularly noteworthy are the Ave Maria, in which the humble beginning grows organically into a joyous and grateful Alleluia; and the Ecce virgo concipiet, which builds inevitably towards the crucial word Emmanuel (“God with us”). Byrd’s setting of the Credo from the Mass in Four Parts is also included in our concert, since the Patterson lacks a Credo.
The third piece of the liturgical
puzzle is the Missa Brevis of Paul Patterson. Patterson is a contemporary
English composer active in both vocal and instrumental music. He published
the Missa in 1985. The work is well-known in choral circles in
Together, these three repertoires are woven into a complete Mass celebration, omitting only those sections (mostly spoken) which accomplish the blessing and serving of the Sacrament. We hope you enjoy A Ladymass for Advent, and invite you to attend our other concerts (detailed elsewhere in this program) which conclude our fall season.
A Ladymass for Advent
Introit: Rorate caeli desuper William Byrd (from Gradualia)
Kyrie eleison Paul Patterson (From Missa Brevis)
Gloria in excelsis Deo Paul Patterson (From Missa Brevis)
Collect Chant (Use of Salisbury Cathedral)
Lectio (Isaiah 7:10-15) Chant (Use of Salisbury Cathedral)
Gradual: Tollite portas William Byrd (from Gradualia)
Versus: Ave Maria William Byrd (from Gradualia)
Gospel (Luke 1: 26-38) Chant (Use of Salisbury Cathedral)
Credo in unum Deum William Byrd (from Four-Part Mass)
Offertory: Ave Maria William Byrd (from Gradualia)
Intermission
Preface Chant (Use of Salisbury Cathedral)
Sanctus Paul Patterson (From Missa Brevis)
Benedictus Paul Patterson (From Missa Brevis)
Pater noster Chant (Use of Salisbury Cathedral)
Agnus Dei Paul Patterson (From Missa Brevis)
Communion: Ecce Virgo concipiet William Byrd (from Gradualia)
Postcommunion Chant (Use of Salisbury Cathedral)
Ite missa est Chant (Use of Salisbury Cathedral)
Texts
Introit |
|
| Rorate caeli desuper |
Drop down dew, heavens, from above, |
| et nubes pluant justum; |
And let the clouds rain down the just one; |
| aperiatur terra |
Let the earth be opened |
| et germinet salvatorem. |
And bud forth a savior. |
| Versus: Benedixisti Domine terram tuam; |
Lord, you have blessed your land; |
| Avertisti captivitatem Jacob. |
You have turned aside the captivity of Jacob |
| Gloria Patri et Filio |
Glory be to the father, and to the Son |
| et Spiritui Sancto; |
And to the Holy Spirit; |
| Sicut erat in principio, |
As it was in the beginning, |
| et nunc et semper |
Is now and ever shall be, |
| et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. |
World without end. Amen. |
| Kyrie |
|
| Kyrie eleison. |
Lord, have mercy. |
| Christe eleison. |
Christ, have mercy. |
| Kyrie eleison. |
Lord, have mercy. |
| Gloria |
|
| Gloria in excelsis Deo. |
Glory to God in the highest, |
| Et in terra pax |
and on earth peace |
| hominibus bonae voluntatis. |
to those of good will. |
| Laudamus te, benedicimus te, |
We praise thee, we bless thee, |
| adoramus te, glorificamus te. |
we adore thee, we glorify thee. |
| Gratias agimus tibi |
We give thanks to thee |
| propter magnam gloriam tuam. |
for thy great glory |
| Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, |
Lord God, heavenly king, |
| Deus Pater omnipotens. |
God the Father almighty. |
| Domine Fili unigenite, |
Lord Jesus Christ, |
| Jesu Christe. |
the only-begotten Son. |
| Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, |
Lord God, Lamb of God, |
| Filius Patris. |
Son of the Father. |
| Qui tollis peccata mundi, |
Who takes away the sins of the world, |
| suscipe deprecationem nostram. |
receive our prayer. |
| Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, |
Who sittest at the right hand of the Father, |
| miserere nobis. |
have mercy upon us. |
| Quoniam tu solus Sanctus. |
For thou alone art holy. |
| Tu solus Dominus. |
Thou alone art the Lord. |
| Tu solus Altissimus, |
Thou alone art most high, |
| Jesu Christe. |
Jesus Christ. |
| Cum Sancto Spiritu |
With the Holy Ghost |
| in gloria Dei Patris. |
in the glory of God the Father. |
| Amen. |
Amen. |
| Priest: Dominus vobiscum. |
The Lord be with you. |
| Choir: Et cum Spiritu tuo. |
And with thy spirit. |
| Priest: Oremus. |
Let us pray. |
| Collect |
|
| Priest : Deus, qui de beatae Mariae Virginis utero Verbum tuum, Angelo nuntiante, carnem suscipere voluisti: |
O God, you who have willed that at the message of an angel your word should take flesh in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary: |
| Praesta supplicibus tuis; ut qui vere eam Genetricem Dei credimus, ejus apud te intercessionibus adjuvemur. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen |
Grant that your supplicant people, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns in unity with the Holy Spirit of God, now and forever. Amen. |
| Lectio: Isaiah 7:10-15 |
|
| Subdeacon: Lectio Isaiae Prophetae: In diebus illis: Locutus est Dominus ad Achaz, dicens: Pete tibi signum a Domino Deo tuo in profundum inferni, sive in excelsum supra. Et dixit Ahaz: Non petam et non temptabo Dominum. Et dixit: Audite ergo, domus David: Numquid parum vobis est, molestos esse hominibus, quia molesti estis et Deo meo? Propter hoc dabit Dominus ipse vobis signum. Ecce virgo concipiet, et pariet filium, et vocabitur nomen ejus Emmanuel. Butyrum et mel comedet, ut sciat reprobare malum, et eligere bonum |
A lesson from the book of the Prophet Isaiah: On that day the Lord spoke to Ahaz, "Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test." And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.” |
| Gradual |
|
| Tollite portas, principes, vestras; |
Lift up your gates, princes |
| Elevamini, portae aeternales; |
Ánd be lifted up, eternal gates |
| Et introibit Rex gloriae. |
Ánd the King of glory will enter in. |
| Versus: Quis ascendit in montem Domini? |
Who will climb the mountain of the Lord? |
| Aut quis stabit in loco sancto ejus? |
Or who will stand in his holy place? |
| Innocens manibus et mundo corde. Alleluia. |
The innocent one, tho one whose heart is clean.Alleluia. |
| Versus: Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum: |
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; |
| Benedicta tu in mulieribus |
Blessed are you among women, |
| Et benedictus fructus ventris tui. Alleluia. |
And blessed is the fruit of your womb. |
| Priest: Dominus vobiscum. |
The Lord be with you. |
| Choir: Et cum Spiritu tuo. |
And with thy spirit. |
| Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38 |
|
| Deacon: Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam. |
The holy gospel according to St. Luke. |
| Choir: Gloria tibi Domine. |
Glory be to you, Lord. |
| Deacon: In illo tempore: Missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilaeae, cui nomen Nazareth, ad virginem desponsatam viro, cui nomen erat Joseph de domo David, et nomen virginis Maria. |
At that time, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. |
| Et ingressus ad eam dixit: “Ave, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus.” Quae cum audisset ipsa autem turbata est in sermone eius et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio. Et ait angelus ei: “Ne timeas, Maria; invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum. Et ecce concipies in utero et paries filium et vocabis nomen eius Iesum. |
And
he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with
you! Blessed are you among women." But when she heard this she
was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what
sort of greeting this might be. |
| Hic erit magnus et Filius Altissimi vocabitur, et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris eius, et regnabit super domum Iacob in aeternum, et regni eius non erit finis”. Dixit autem Maria ad angelum: “Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco?” |
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and his kingdom will have no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" |
| Et respondens angelus dixit ei: “Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi: ideoque et quod nascetur sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei. Et ecce Elisabeth cognata tua et ipsa concepit filium in |
And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age |
| senecta sua, et hic mensis est sextus illi, quae vocatur sterilis, quia non erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum”. Dixit autem Maria: “Ecce ancilla Domini; fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.” |
has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." |
| Credo |
|
| Credo in unum Deum, |
I believe in one God, |
| Patrem omnipotentem, |
the Father Almighty, |
| factorem coeli et terrae, |
creator of heaven and earth, |
| visibilium omnium |
and of all things visible |
| et invisibilium. |
and invisible. |
| Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, |
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, |
| filium Dei unigenitum. |
only-begotten son of the father. |
| Et ex Patre natum |
Born of the Father |
| ante omnia saecula. |
before all worlds. |
| Deum de Deo, |
God of God, |
| lumen de lumine, |
light of light, |
| Deum verum de Deo vero. |
true God of true God; |
| Genitum non factum, |
Begotten, not made; |
| consubstantialem Patri; |
consubstantial with the Father; |
| per quem omnia facta sunt. |
by whom all things were made. |
| Qui propter nos homines |
Who for us men, |
| et propter nostram salutem |
and for our salvation, |
| descendit de coelis. |
came down from heaven. |
| Et incarnatus est |
And was incarnate |
| de Spiritu Sancto |
by the Holy Ghost |
| ex Maria Virgine, |
of the Virgin Mary; |
| et homo factus est. |
and was made man. |
| Crucifixus etiam pro nobis: |
He was crucified for us, |
| sub Pontio Pilato, |
under Pontius Pilate, |
| passus et sepultus est. |
suffered and was buried. |
| Et resurrexit tertia die, |
And the third day he rose again, |
| secundum Scripturas. |
according to the Scriptures. |
| Et ascendit in coelum: |
And ascended into heaven. |
| sedet ad dexteram Patris. |
He sitteth on the right hand of the Father; |
| Et iterum venturas est cum gloria, |
and he shall come again with glory |
| judicare vivos et mortuos: |
to judge the living and the dead; |
| cujus regni non erit finis. |
and his kingdom shall have no end. |
| Et in Spiritum Sanctum, |
And in the Holy Ghost, |
| Dominum et vivificantem; |
the Lord and giver of life, |
| qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. |
who proceedeth from the Father and the Son. |
| Qui cum Patre et Filio |
Who together with the Father and the Son |
| simul adoratur et conglorificatur: |
adored and glorified; |
| qui locutus est per Prophetas. |
who spoke by the Prophets. |
| Et unam sanctam catholicam |
And in one, holy, catholic |
| et apostolicam Ecclesiam. |
and apostolic Church. |
| Confiteor unum baptisma |
I confess one baptism |
| in remissionem peccatorum. |
for the remission of sins. |
| Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum. |
And I await the resurrection of the dead, |
| Et vitam venturi saeculi. |
and the life of the world to come. |
| Amen. |
Amen. |
| Priest: Dominus vobiscum. |
The Lord be with you. |
| Choir: Et cum Spiritu tuo. |
And with thy spirit. |
| Priest: Oremus. |
Let us pray. |
Offertory |
|
| Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum: |
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; |
| Benedicta tu in mulieribus |
Blessed are you among women, |
| Et benedictus fructus ventris tui. Alleluia. |
And blessed is the fruit of your womb. |
| INTERMISSION |
|
| Priest: Dominus vobiscum. |
The Lord be with you. |
| Choir: Et cum Spiritu tuo. |
And with thy spirit. |
| Priest: Sursum corda. |
Lift up your hearts. |
| Choir: Habemus ad Dominum. |
We lift them up to the Lord. |
| Priest: Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro. |
We give thanks to the Lord our God. |
| Choir: Dignum et justum est. |
It is meet and right so to do. |
| Preface |
|
| Priest : Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Et te in veneratione beatae Mariae semper Virginis collaudare, benedicere, et praedicare. Quae et Unigenitum tuum Sancti Spiritus obumbratione concepit: et virginitatis gloria permanente, lumen aeternum mundo effudit, Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum. |
It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: and that we should praise and bless, and proclaim Thee, in the venera-tion of the Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin: Who also conceived Your only-begotten Son by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, and the glory of her virginity still abiding, gave forth to the world the everlasting Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. |
| Per quem majestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Coeli, coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia exsultatione concel-ebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti jubeas deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes: |
Through whom the Angels praise your majesty; the Domi-nions adore it; the Powers tremble before it; the heavens, and the heavenly Virtues, and blessed Seraphim, with com-mon jubilee glorify it. Together with whom we beseech You that we may be admitted to join our humble voices, saying : |
| Sanctus |
|
| Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, |
Holy, holy, holy, |
| Dominus Deus Sabaoth. |
Lord God of hosts. |
| Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. |
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. |
| Hosanna in excelsis. |
Hosanna in the highest. |
| Benedictus |
|
| Benedictus qui venit |
Blessed is the one that cometh |
| in nomine Domini. |
in the name of the Lord. |
| Hosanna in excelsis. |
Hosanna in the highest. |
| Priest: Oremus. Praeceptis salutaribus moniti, et divina institutione formati, audemus dicere: |
Let us pray. Admonished by salutary precepts, and following divine directions, we presume to say: |
| Pater noster |
|
| Priest: Pater noster, qui es in coelis: sanctificetur nomen tuum: adveniat regnum tuum: fiat voluntas tua sicut in coelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie: et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem. Sed libera nos a malo. |
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| Agnus Dei |
|
| Agnus Dei, |
Lamb of God, |
| qui tollis peccata mundi, |
who takest away the sins of the world, |
| miserere nobis. |
have mercy on us. |
| Agnus Dei, |
Lamb of God, |
| qui tollis peccata mundi, |
who takest away the sins of the world, |
| miserere nobis. |
have mercy on us. |
| Agnus Dei, |
Lamb of God, |
| qui tollis peccata mundi: |
who takest away the sins of the world: |
| Dona nobis pacem. |
Grant us peace. |
| Communion |
|
| Ecce virgo concipiet |
Behold, a virgin will conceive |
| Et pariet filium, |
And bear a son, |
| Et vocabitur nomen ejus Emmanuel. |
And his name will be called Emmanuel. |
| Priest: Dominus vobiscum. |
The Lord be with you. |
| Choir: Et cum Spiritu tuo. |
And with thy spirit. |
| Priest: Oremus. |
Let us pray. |
| Postcommunion |
|
| Priest: Gratiam tuam quaesumus Domine mentibus nostris infunde ut qui angelo nuntiante Christi filii tui incarnationem cognovimus per passionem eius et crucem ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen. |
Lord, fill our hearts with your grace: once, through the message of an angel you revealed to us the incarnation of your Son; now, through His suffering and death lead us to the glory of His resurrection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns in unity with the Holy Spirit of God, now and forever. Amen. |
| Priest: Dominus vobiscum. |
The Lord be with you. |
| Choir: Et cum Spiritu tuo. |
And with thy spirit. |
| Ite missa est |
|
| Deacon: Ite, missa est. |
Go, the mass is finished. |
| Choir: Deo gracias. |
Thanks be to God. |
Personnel
Sonoma State University Chamber Singers
Directed by Robert Worth
*indicates soloist
| Shawna Anderson* Kelly Butler Claire Callaghan Kieran Coghlan Melanie Dodson* Jennifer Frederick Isaac Gonzalez Kristofer Haugen Anthony Martin* Muftiah Martin* |
Amy Martin Sarah Minnick Steve Osborn* Ana Robinson Sarah Shimmin Mike Silverman* Michael Steiner* Lauren Tyner Rachel Walters* Aaron Walz |
About the Performers
The Sonoma State University
Chamber Singers is an ensemble of 20 singers dedicated to the performance
of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music. In addition, the group occasionally
does projects which feature contemporary music. Founded in 1991, the group
has performed the work of such composers as Guillaume de Machaut, Johannes
Ciconia, Josquin des Pres, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and Claudio Monteverdi.
For the spring season, the Chamber Singers will perform a
a Mass for Corpus Christi, featuring works by Josquin Despres, Heinrich
Isaac and Frank Martin. In the 2003-04 academic year, the Chamber Singers will be touring
Robert Worth is Professor of Music at Sonoma State University, where he has directed the choral ensembles since 1983. He received his BA in music at SSU in 1980, and earned his Master’s degree in musicology at UC Berkeley. His specialty is early music; SSU choral groups perform a broad range of repertoire from the Medieval through the Classical periods, with occasional excursions into the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition, Bob is a composer and arranger. Many of his vocal arrangements and compositions have been performed by groups in California and beyond. He is a past recipient of SSU’s Outstanding Professor award, as well as numerous other honors, grants and fellowships.
Upcoming Concerts
Brahms Requiem
The Santa Rosa Symphony Honor Choir, with the Sonoma County Bach Choir at its core, joins the Santa Rosa Symphony, under the direction of Jeffrey Kahane, to perform Brahms’ masterpiece, Ein deutsches Requiem. The concert features soloists Karina Gauvin, soprano, and Stephen Powell, baritone
Saturday and Monday, December 7 and 9, at 8 PM
Sunday, December 8, at 3 PM
Luther Burbank Center, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa
Call 54-MUSIC for further information or to purchase tickets.
Celebrate the Solstice!
The SSU Chorus, with harpist Laura Simpson, presents music marking the coming of the short, dark days of winter, and anticipating the return of the invincible sun. The featured work, Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, forms the core of a diverse program of works both sacred and secular.
Friday, December 13, and Saturday, December 14 at 8 PM
Holy Family Episcopal Church
1500 E. Cotati Ave (at Snyder Lane)
Rohnert Park
Call the SSU Box Office at 664-2353 for further information or to purchase tickets.