May Waggoner <mgw2704@...> wrote:
Hi, vous autres. I have the words to the Vespers, plus a short intro.
I'll attach the doc. and also print the text in case the attachment
doesn't work.
bonne lecture! (Happy reading.)
May (Waggoner: second sandman from the left)
W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)
Solemn Vespers K.339
Dixit Dominus; Confitebor; Beatus Vir; Laudate Pueri; Laudate Dominum;
Magnificat
Background
The Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, K339 (Solemn Vespers for a
Confessor) were written in 1780, the year after Mozart had reluctantly
returned home to take up the role of court organist to Hieronymous
Colloredo, the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg. It was not a happy time
for Mozart. Now in his twenties, his days of instant recognition as a
child-prodigy were over, and his last trip to Europe in search of
wealthy patronage had proved fruitless. To make matters worse, his
mother, who had travelled with him, had been taken ill and died in
Paris, and Aloysia Weber, with whom he had fallen head over heels in
love, had jilted him. Salzburg cramped his style; it was too provincial
and there was no opera house. As if that wasn't enough, Archbishop
Colloredo, sought to clip his wings and introduced liturgical reforms,
forbidding the customary use of operatic conventions in church music,
and demanding a much more direct and succinct mode of expression. It is
all the more remarkable, then, that this period of discontentment for
Mozart should be marked by an outpouring of such joyful masterpieces as
the Coronation Mass and the two wonderful sets of Vespers, of which the
The Vesperae Solennes de Confessore is the second and perhaps best known.
Dixit Dominus:
The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, until I make
thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy power
out of Sion: be thou ruler, even in the midst among thine enemies. In
the day of thy power shall the people offer thee free-will offerings
with an holy worship:the dew of thy birth is of the womb of the morning.
The Lord swore, and will not repent:Thou art a priest for ever after the
order of Melchisedech. The Lord upon thy right hand shall wound even
kings in the day of his wrath.
He shall judge among the heathen;he shall fill the places with the dead
bodies and smite in sunder the heads over divers countries.
He shall drink of the brook in the way therefore shall he lift up his head.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,and to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without
end. Amen.
Confitebor: I will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart
secretly among the faithful, and in the congregation. The works of the
Lord are great sought out of all of them that have pleasure therein. His
work is worthy to be praised, and had in honour and his righteousness
endureth for ever.The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his
marvellous work, that they ought to be had in remembrance.He hath given
meat unto them that fear him :he shall ever be mindful of his
covenant.He hath shewed his people the power of his works that he may
give them the heritage of the heathen. The works of his hands are verity
and judgement, all his commandments are true.They stand fast for ever
and ever and are done in truth and equity.He sent redemption unto his
people; he hath commanded his covenant for ever;
holy and reverend is his nameThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do thereafter; the
praise of it endureth for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,and to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end
Amen.
Beatus Vir
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he hath great delight in his
commandments
His seed shall be mighty on earth the generation of the faithful shall
be blessed
Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house and his righteousness
endureth for ever.
Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness: he is merciful,
loving, and righteous.
A good man is merciful, and lendeth and will guide his words with
discretion for he shall never be moved and the righteous shall be had in
everlasting remembrance: he will not be afraid of any evil tidings for
his heart standeth fast, and believeth in the Lord. His heart is
established, and will not shrink until he see his desire upon his
enemies. He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor and his
righteousness remaineth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with
honour.The ungodly shall see it, and it shall grieve him he shall gnash
with his teeth, and consume away;the desire of the ungodly shall perish.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,and to the Holy Ghost. As it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end Amen.
Laudate Pueri
Praise the Lord, ye servants O praise the Name of the Lord,
Blessed be the Name of the Lord from this time forth for evermore,
The Lord's Name is praised from the rising up of the sun unto the going
down of the same
The Lord is high above all heathen and his glory above the heavens.
Who is like unto the Lord our God, that hath his dwelling so high, and
yet humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and earth?
He taketh up the simple out of the dust and lifteth the poor out of the
mire;
That he may set him with the princes even with the princes of the people.
He maketh the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of
children.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,and to the Holy Ghosl
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without
end" Amen.
In Laudate Dominum
O praise the Lord, all ye heathen praise him, all ye nations;
For his merciful kindness is ever more and more towards us
and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son,and to the Holy Ghost
.As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without
end Amen.
Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden
For behold, from henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed
For he that is mighty hath magnified me and holy is his Name
And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the
imagination of their hearts He hath put down the mighty from their seat
and hath exalted the humble and meek;
he hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent
empty away;
He, remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel
as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,and to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end
Amen.
© J. S. Whitehead, January 2003
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