Master of the Life of the Virgin, Crucifixion, Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne, 1465-70Herbert Howells, Stabat Mater dolorosa
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Performance by Neil Archer, tenor; the London Symphony Chorus; the London Symphony Orchestra; Gennady Rozhdestvensky conducting.
Click to open the Chandos sleevenotes which contain several pages from Howells' diary concerning the origin of his Stabat Mater.
To listen, click on underlined movements.
Stabat Mater dolorosa
Iuxta crucem lacrimosa
Dum pendebat Filius.
The grieving Mother stood
beside the cross weeping
where her Son was hanging.
Cuius animam gementem
Contristatam et dolentem
Pertransivit gladius.
Through her weeping soul
Compassionate and grieving,
Iuxta crucem lacrimosa
Dum pendebat Filius.
The grieving Mother stood
beside the cross weeping
where her Son was hanging.
Cuius animam gementem
Contristatam et dolentem
Pertransivit gladius.
Through her weeping soul
Compassionate and grieving,
a sword passed.
O quam tristis et afflicta
Fuit illa benedicta
Mater unigeniti!
O how sad and afflicted
was that blessed
Mother of the Only-begotten!
Quae moerebat et dolebat,
Et tremebat dum videbat
Nati poenas incliti.
Who mourned and grieved,
the pious Mother, with seeing
the torment of her glorious Son.
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
Dolentem cum Filio?
Who would not be have compassion
on beholding the devout mother
suffering with her Son?
Pro peccatis suae gentis
Vidit Iesum 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
Moriendo desolatum
Dum emisit spiritum.
She saw her sweet Son
dying, forsaken,
while He gave up His spirit.
Eia Mater, fons amoris
Me sentire vim doloris
Fac, ut tecum lugeam.
O Mother, fountain of love,
make me feel the 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,
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.
Iuxta crucem tecum stare,
Te libenter sociare
In planctu desidero.
To stand beside the cross with you,
and for me freely to join you
in mourning, this I desire.
Virgo virginum praeclara,
Mihi iam 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 Christi mortem
Passionis eius sortem,
Et plagas recolere.
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
because of love of your Son.
Inflammatus et accensus
Per Te, Virgo, sim defensus
In die iudicii.
Lest I be destroyed by fire, set alight,
then through you, Virgin, may I be defended
on the day of judgement.
Christe, cum sit hunc exire
Da per Matrem me venire
ad palmam victoriae.
Christ, when I depart hence,
grant that through your mother
I may come to the victor's palm.
Quando corpus morietur,
Fac, ut animae donetur
Paradisi gloria. Amen.
When my body dies,
grant that to my soul is given
the glory of paradise. Amen.
Da per Matrem me venire
ad palmam victoriae.
Christ, when I depart hence,
grant that through your mother
I may come to the victor's palm.
Quando corpus morietur,
Fac, ut animae donetur
Paradisi gloria. Amen.
When my body dies,
grant that to my soul is given
the glory of paradise. Amen.
