Carolina Vocal Arts Ensemble
Stephen Field, Director
Presents
Gioacchino Rossini’s
Stabat Mater
Elisabeth MacKay Field, soprano Julie Freeman, mezzo-soprano
Wesley Rickard, tenor John Milligan, bass
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| Stabat Mater |
| Choir and Soloists |
Stabat Mater dolorosa
juxta crucem lacrimosa,
dum pendebat Filius. |
The grieving Mother stood
beside the cross weeping,
Where her son was hanging. |
| Cujus Animam |
| Tenor Aria |
Cujus animam gementem
contristatam et dolentem
pertransivit gladius. |
Through her weeping soul,
compassionate and grieving,
a sword passed. |
O quam tristis et efflicta
fuit illa benedicta
mater Unigeniti! |
O how sad and afflicted
was that blessed
Mother of the Only-begotten! |
Quae moerebat et dolebat
et tremebat cum videbat
nati poenas inclyti. |
Who mourned and grieved,
and trembled, with seeing
the torment of her glorious Son. |
| Qui Est Homo |
| Soprano Duet |
Quis est homo qui non fleret,
Christi matrem si videret
in tanto supplicio? |
Who is the man who would not weep
if seeing the Mother of Christ
in such agony? |
Quis non posset contristari,
piam matrem contemplari
dolentum cum Filio? |
Who would not have compassion
on beholding the devout mother
suffering with her son? |
| Pro Peccatis |
| Bass Aria |
Pro peccatis suae gentis
vidit Jesum in tormentis
et flagellis subditum. |
For the sins of His people
she saw Jesus in torment
and subjected to the scourge |
Vidit suum dulcem Natum
Morientem, desolatum,
dum emisit spiritum. |
She saw her sweet Son
dying, forsaken,
while He gave up His spirit. |
| Eia Mater |
| Bass and Choir |
Eia Mater, fons amoris,
me sentire vim doloris
fac, ut tecum lugeam. |
O Mother, fountain of love,
make me feel thy power of sorrow,
that I may grieve with you. |
Fac ut ardeat cor meum
in amando Christum Deum
ut sibi complaceam. |
Grant that my heart may burn
in the love of the Lord Christ
that I may greatly please Him. |
|
| Sancta Mater, Istud Agas |
| Quartet |
Sancta mater, istud agas,
Crucifixi fige plagas
cordi meo valide, |
Holy Mother, grant this of yours,
that the wounds of the Crucified be
well-formed in my heart. |
Tui Nati vulnerati
tam dignati pro me pati
poenas mecum divide. |
Grant that the punishment of your
wounded Son, so worthily suffered
for me, may be shared with me. |
Fac me vere tecum flere
Crucifixo condolere,
donec ego vixero. |
Let me sincerely weep with you,
bemoan the Crucified,
for as long as I live. |
Juxta crucem tecum stare
Te libenter sociare
in planctu desidero. |
To stand beside the cross with you,
and for me to join you
in mourning, this I desire. |
Virgo virginum praeclara,
mihi jam non sis amara,
fac me tecum plangere. |
Chosen Virgin of virgins,
to me, now, be not bitter;
let me mourn with you. |
| Fac Ut Portem |
| Mezzo-Soprano Aria |
Fac ut portem Christi mortem,
passionis facme sortem
et plagas recolers. |
Grant that I may bear the death of Christ,
grant me the fate of His passion
and the remembrance of His wounds |
Fac me plagis vulnerari,
cruce hac inebriari
ob amorem Filii. |
Let me be wounded with distress,
inebriated in this way by the cross
and the blood of your Son. |
| Inflammatus et Accensus |
| Soprano and Choir |
Inflammatus et auccensus,
per te, Virgo, sim defensus
in die judicii. |
Lest I be destroyed by fire, set alight,
then through you, Virgin, may I be
Defended on the day of judgement. |
Fac me cruce custodiri,
morte Christi praemuniri,
confoveri gratia. |
Let me by guarded by the cross,
fortified by the death of Christ,
and cherished by grace. |
| Quando Corpus |
| Choir |
Quando corpus morietur,
fac ut animae donator
paridisi gloria. |
When my body dies,
grant that to my soul is given
The glory of paradise. |
| In Sempiterna Saecula, Amen |
| Choir and Soloists |
| In sempiterna saecula. Amen. |
In perpetual celebration. Amen. |
| ******************** |
| Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868) composed the Stabat Mater for the 13th century text by Jacopone da Todi, one of the finest poems of the Middle Ages. The text tells of the emotions endured by the Virgin Mary at the foot of the cross, as she watches Jesus suffer and die. The hymn was part of the liturgy for the feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 15), but was frequently used in other devotions to her. The character of the Stabat Mater is personal and moving, as the poet suffers along with Mary. In the end, the poem is a direct and profound prayer. |
| "Give me a laundry-list and I'll set it to music." |
| ~~Gioacchino Rossini |
| "The point is... a person feels good listening to Rossini." |
| ~~Thomas Pynchon |
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