Every part of the liturgy of tenebrae, and indeed of the entirety of holy week, is incredibly beautiful, far more so than can be reasonably discussed here. The jews have instigated the crucifixion of our lord and, as he hangs upon the cross, darkness falls over the earth. The late renaissance spanish composer set the responsories for holy week known as tenebrae responsories. Thus victoria wrote six responsories for each of the three days. Cda67970 by westminster cathedral choir, london brass, james macmillan, martin baker from amazons classical music store.
It is the responsories that have inspired composers to write some of their finest religious music, none more so than victoria whose incomparable settings of the texts for the second and third nocturns have not been surpassed and reach out to all and not just to the observant catholic, charles said. Aug 01, 2019 there have been several fine recordings of these items. Maundy thursday tenebrae by octavo sheet music for. Work title o vos omnes, qui transitis per viam, attendite et videte alt ernative. Its a fascinating piece of programming to have an entire disc of victorias tenebrae responsories. Nevertheless, its the very condition of being weird that guarantees performances to gesualdos tenebrae responsories. V ictoria s responsories for the now defunct holy week service of tenebrae are a natural for their eponymous ensemble. I first came to know this piece whilst singing it at university, and was struck by the way it expresses grief and suffering in the most exquisite and heart rending way. Tenebrae responsories are part of the traditional liturgical cycle during holy week in victorias time, the roman catholic church would have these, lamentations, jeremiah, and other means to work toward increasing sorrow and darkness as the world approached good friday and holy saturday. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
It involves extinguishing candles one by one as christ goes through his passion. Responsories of the office of tenebrae for holy saturday. Victoria tenebrae responsories o vos omnes the cambridge. The tenebrae responsories have been set by, among others, lassus, gesualdo, victoria, marcantoine charpentier and jan dismas zelenka. Victoria set the lamentations but not the responsories. Tenebrae responsories 2018 official digital download 24bit88,2khz published june 7, 2018. The lessons were to be recited and the responsories victoria put into strictly ordered polyphony, observing every correct repeat prescribed by the rubrics. He would stay there over 20 years, and publish many of his most important works, including, in 1585, his monumental officium hebdomae sanctae.
Victoria, the choir of westminster cathedral conducted by. A distinguishing characteristic of this service is the series of readings from lamentations which appear early in the office. Service of tenebrae tenebrae or service of shadows, is one of the oldest church traditions for the commemoration of the passion and death of jesus. Victoria tenebrae responsories tenebrae factae sunt. Pdf choral satb a cappella religious sacred license. Apr 03, 2015 service of tenebrae tenebrae or service of shadows, is one of the oldest church traditions for the commemoration of the passion and death of jesus. Set beside this composers outpourings of passion, contemparary settings of these same texts by palestrina, lassus and especially victoria appears all the more dignified and enduring. Tenebrae meaning darkness or shadows is the morning prayer of the church on holy thursday, good friday and holy saturday.
Nevertheless, its the very condition of being weird that guarantees. Victoria published his first book of motets in 1572. Tenebrae responsories by tenebrae, victoria, nigel short from amazons classical music store. I have tried to adapt them many times and always abandoned the effort. Nigel short in highresolution audio at available in 96 khz 24bit aiff, flac high resolution audio formats. Pdf, ps, postscript, midi and lilypond files available. Time to bring tenebrae out of the shadows regina magazine. I suggest that if you cannot sing the responsories in latin, you should sing the english texts to psalm tones. It comes from the latin word tenebrae meaning shadows.
Victoria was not only a composer but also an accomplished organist, singer and priest. Responsoria pro hebdomada sancta are polyphonic settings for the matins responsories, not of the whole of holy week, but only of the last three days. A beautifully judged and scaled performance of victorias huge 1585 collection of music for holy week, writes andrew clements. Tenebrae responsories are part of the traditional liturgical cycle during holy week in victoria s time, the roman catholic church would have these, lamentations, jeremiah, and other means to work toward increasing sorrow and darkness as the world approached good friday and holy saturday. Carlo gesualdo tenebrae responsories for maundy thursday. Tenebrae responsories martin baker, westminster cathedral choir, london brass hyperion. Maundy thursday, good friday and holy saturday until the 1955 reform of the holy week ceremonies by pope pius xii, matins and lauds of these days were normally anticipated on the evening of the preceding day. Victoria, the choir of westminster cathedral conducted. Gregorio allegris setting of the miserere psalm, to be sung at the tenebrae lauds, is one of the best known compositions for the service. This beautifully realised release from tenebrae goes a long way to confirming their position as the one of if not the finest chamber choirs at work in britain today. The distinctive ceremonial of tenebrae includes use of fifteen lighted candles, often set on a special, triangular stand. This adaptation of the liturgy of tenebrae works well in schools and has an impact on pupils. Nov 14, 20 a beautifully judged and scaled performance of victorias huge 1585 collection of music for holy week, writes andrew clements. The eighteen tenebrae responsories of victoria, each for four voices but with varying disposition of voices are among his most inspired settings of sacred texts, adhering to strict liturgical form, with six responsories for the second and third nocturns of matins for.
This includes works designated by their composers as a responsory in a title or subtitle. Pdf scanned by pllzu pml 201628 editor felipe pedrell 18411922 pub lisher. The order of service for tenebrae takes its form from the celebration of the liturgy of the hours, the official. The chant responsories of tenebrae are not patient of satisfactory adaptation to english. Gimell gesualdo tenebrae responsories for holy saturday. In the second and third nocturns he did the opposite. The tenebrae responsories encapsulate something uniquely valuable in victorias art. They are liturgical texts prescribed for use in the catholic observances during the triduum of the holy week, in the matins of maundy thursday, good friday and holy saturday. For 20 years we provide a free and legal service for free sheet music without asking you anything in exchange.
Victoria composed his tenebrae responsories about twenty years after the conclusion of the. Latin for darkness or shadows, tenebrae takes place at night in a church. Heres a makingof video of stile anticos tenebrae responsories, some background and commentary, and a few sound bytes. The works mix the words of the gospels with other texts commenting on collective suffering written around the 4th century, and would traditionally have been performed as part of a moving service in which candles are slowly extinguished to mark the progress and.
Victoria is now generally regarded as the greatest composer of the spanish counterreformation, and one of the most important composers of sacred music during the renaissance. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Previous sheet music next sheet music tenebrae responsories 8. Gregorio allegris setting of the miserere psalm, to be sung at the tenebrae lauds, is one of the best known compositions for the. He would stay there over 20 years, and publish many of his most important works, including, in 1585, his monumental officium. Victoria tenebrae responsories tenebrae factae sunt youtube. Tenebrae is a remarkable service thats rarely used today. Victoria tenebrae responsories o vos omnes the cambridge singers. Aug 15, 20 set beside this composers outpourings of passion, contemparary settings of these same texts by palestrina, lassus and especially victoria appears all the more dignified and enduring. Notes, excerpt of a solo verse from the set of tenebrae responsories. August 20, 1611 was a spanish composer of the late renaissance. Tenebrae responsories feria vi in parasceve ad matutinum in. I first came to know this piece whilst singing it at university, and was. Tenebrae the complete responsoria the hilliard ensemble on allmusic 1991.
The list below includes all pages in the category responsories. Sort this list by work type, instrumentation, composer, and more. If you use and like, thank you to consider support donation. Tenebrae factae sunt tenebrae factae sunt is the eighth responsorio for holy week and the fifth responsorio of matins for good friday. Excerpt of a solo verse from the set of tenebrae responsories. The works mix the words of the gospels with other texts commenting on collective suffering written around the 4th century, and would traditionally have been performed as part of a moving service in which candles are slowly extinguished to mark the progress and suffering of. The tenebrae responsories, along with the sixvoice requiem, are responsible for setting the modern impression of victoria as a composer. Tenebrae responsories 2018 official digital download 24bit88,2khz.
As the passion story unfolds, the darkness increases, until the final reading, the death. In 1585 he wrote his officium hebdomadae sanctae, a collection which included 37 pieces that are part of the holy week celebrations in the catholic liturgy, including the eighteen motets of the tenebrae responsories. Tenebrae responsories stile antico stile antico lights victorias dark music from within. The service of tenebrae the catholic diocese of toledo. There have been several fine recordings of these items. Gesualdos settings are much less familiar, and its a.
Apr 12, 2019 every part of the liturgy of tenebrae, and indeed of the entirety of holy week, is incredibly beautiful, far more so than can be reasonably discussed here. Apr 05, 2012 i noted yesterday sciarrinos interest in carlo gesualdo, and so today, as holy week moves into the triduum, here is a complete recording of gesualdos setting of the tenebrae responsories for maundy thursday. This record was made in westminster cathedral during the daytime of 1st and 2nd april, 1959, and it was therefore not possible to produce a record entirely free from extraneous noise. Jul 18, 2012 victoria tenebrae responsories o vos omnes the cambridge singers. Tenebrae responsories feria vi in parasceve ad matutinum. The word itself means darkness in reference to the darkness held in the heart of the church during the days and hours of our lords passion, death and resurrection.