I. "Jesu dulcis memoria ..." 0:00
II. "Jesu, spes paenitentibus ..." 2:51
III. "Sis, Jesu, nostrum gaudium ..." 5:12
First of a pair of sacred vocal works, originally composed in 2016 and revised in 2020. A setting of verses 1, 3, and 5 of the text "Jesu, dulcis memoria", the authorship of which hagiographers typically assign to Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. The first section, setting the first verse of the text, opens with a warmly, richly voiced sequence for four violoncelli, leading into a tranquil arioso for alto with accompaniment by the violoncelli. The second verse begins with a searching fugue on the harmonium; violoncelli soloists double the alto's lyrical line, building in tension to a luminous denouement. The final section brings together alto, harmonium, and violoncello quartet, employing the chorale tune "Laß, o Herr, dein Ohr sich neigen" as its basis. Note the unusual tonal scheme juxtaposing very distantly related tonal centers -- the first movement ending on a G♯ major triad, the second on an A major triad, the third on a G major triad -- approximating in musical terms a Cross.
You will find below a reproduction of the Latin text which I have set:
Latin Text:
[1] Jesu dulcis memoria
dans vera cordis gaudia:
sed super mel et omnia
ejus dulcis praesentia.
...
[3] Jesu, spes paenitentibus,
quam pius es petentibus!
quam bonus te quaerentibus!
sed quid invenientibus?
...
[5] Sis, Jesu, nostrum gaudium,
qui es futurus praemium:
sit nostra in te gloria,
per cuncta semper saecula.
Amen.
Edward Caswall Translation:
[1] Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy Presence rest.
...
[3] O hope of every contrite heart!
O joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
...
[5] Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity. Amen.
Feel free to peruse through the full engraved "conductor's score":
The painting in the video is "The Repentant Magdalen" by El Greco.
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