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- John McCabe
Stabat Mater (1976)
- Novello & Co Ltd (World)
Commissioned by the Northampton Philharmonic Choir
Vocal score for sale
Programme Note
For soprano solo, choir and orchestra
John McCabe, one of Britain’s best known contemporary composers, was specially commissioned to compose this work by the Northampton Philharmonic Choir to celebrate its 80th Season.
Stabat mater dolorosa
Juxta crucem lacrimosa
Dum pendebat Filius: Full of grief the Mother stood
weeping by the Cross
where hung her Son:
Cujus animam gementem
Contristantem et dolentem
Per transivit gladius.
Whose spirit, groaning,
saddened and grieving,
a sword has pierced.
O quam tristis et afflicta
Fuit illa benedicta
Mater unigeniti!
O how sad and afflicted
was that blessed
Mother of the Only-begotten!
Quae moorebat et dolebat,
Et tremebat cum videbat
Nati poenas incliti.
She mourned and grieved,
the gentle Mother, as she beheld
the sufferings of her illustrious Son.
Quis est homo qui non fleret,
Matrem Christi si videret
In tanto supplicio?
Who is the man that would not weep
if he saw the Mother if Christ
in such torment?
Quis non posset contristari,
Piano matrem contemplari
Dolentem cum Filio?
Who could not sorrow too
to contemplate Christ’s Mother
grieving for her Son?
Pro peccatis suae gentis
Jesum vidit in tormentis
Et flagellis subditum. For the sins of His people
she saw Jesus in torment
and submitting to the scourge.
Vidit suum dulcem natum
Morientem desolatum,
Cum emisit spiritum.
She saw her sweet offspring
forlorn in his death
as He yielded up the spirit.
Eia, mater, fons amoris,
Me sentire vim doloris
Fac, ut tecum lugeam.
Ah Mother, fount of love,
to feel the force of grief
grant me, that I may weep with Thee.
Fac, ut ardeat
Cor meum In amando Christum Deum,
Ut sibi complaceam.
Grant that my heart may blaze
with the love of Christ, my God,
that I may please him.
Sancta Mater, illud agas:
Crucifixi fige plagas
Cordi meo valide.
Holy Mother, grant this same;
fix the wounds of the Crucified
firmly on my heart.
Tui mati vulnerati
Tam dignati pro me pati
Poenas mecum divide.
Thy wounded Son
so gracious to suffer for me,
divide his sufferings with me.
Fac me vere tecum flere,
Crucifixo condolere,
Donec ego vixero;
Make me to weep with Thee so gentle,
to grieve with Thee for the Crucified
as long as I live;
Juxta crucem tecum stare,
Te libenter sociare
In planctu desidero.
To stand with Thee by the Cross,
and to join with Thee
in mourning Thy loss.
Virgo, virginumpreeclara,
Mihi jam non sis amara:
Fac me tecum plangere.
Virgin supreme among virgins,
be not harsh now to me:
make me to weep with Thee.
Fac, ut portem Christi mortem,
Passionis ejus sortem
Et plagas recolere.
Make me to bear Christ’s death,
grant me a share in His passion
and to reverence His wounds.
Fac me plagis vulnerari,
Cruce hac inebriari
Ob amoren filii.
Make me to be wounded with His wounds,
make me drink the cup of the Cross
and the blood of Thy Son.
Inflammatus et accensus,
Per te, virgo, sim defensus
In die judicii.
That I burn not, consumed with flames,
O Virgin, let me be defended by Thee
In the day of judgement.
Fac me cruce custodiri,
Morte Christipraemuniri,
Confeberi gratia.
Make me to be protected by the Cross,
Strengthened by the death of Christ,
and encouraged by grace.
Quando corpus morietur,
Fac ut animae donetur
Paradisi gloria. When my body shall die
grant that my spirit may be given
the glory of Paradise.
John McCabe, one of Britain’s best known contemporary composers, was specially commissioned to compose this work by the Northampton Philharmonic Choir to celebrate its 80th Season.
Stabat mater dolorosa
Juxta crucem lacrimosa
Dum pendebat Filius: Full of grief the Mother stood
weeping by the Cross
where hung her Son:
Cujus animam gementem
Contristantem et dolentem
Per transivit gladius.
Whose spirit, groaning,
saddened and grieving,
a sword has pierced.
O quam tristis et afflicta
Fuit illa benedicta
Mater unigeniti!
O how sad and afflicted
was that blessed
Mother of the Only-begotten!
Quae moorebat et dolebat,
Et tremebat cum videbat
Nati poenas incliti.
She mourned and grieved,
the gentle Mother, as she beheld
the sufferings of her illustrious Son.
Quis est homo qui non fleret,
Matrem Christi si videret
In tanto supplicio?
Who is the man that would not weep
if he saw the Mother if Christ
in such torment?
Quis non posset contristari,
Piano matrem contemplari
Dolentem cum Filio?
Who could not sorrow too
to contemplate Christ’s Mother
grieving for her Son?
Pro peccatis suae gentis
Jesum vidit in tormentis
Et flagellis subditum. For the sins of His people
she saw Jesus in torment
and submitting to the scourge.
Vidit suum dulcem natum
Morientem desolatum,
Cum emisit spiritum.
She saw her sweet offspring
forlorn in his death
as He yielded up the spirit.
Eia, mater, fons amoris,
Me sentire vim doloris
Fac, ut tecum lugeam.
Ah Mother, fount of love,
to feel the force of grief
grant me, that I may weep with Thee.
Fac, ut ardeat
Cor meum In amando Christum Deum,
Ut sibi complaceam.
Grant that my heart may blaze
with the love of Christ, my God,
that I may please him.
Sancta Mater, illud agas:
Crucifixi fige plagas
Cordi meo valide.
Holy Mother, grant this same;
fix the wounds of the Crucified
firmly on my heart.
Tui mati vulnerati
Tam dignati pro me pati
Poenas mecum divide.
Thy wounded Son
so gracious to suffer for me,
divide his sufferings with me.
Fac me vere tecum flere,
Crucifixo condolere,
Donec ego vixero;
Make me to weep with Thee so gentle,
to grieve with Thee for the Crucified
as long as I live;
Juxta crucem tecum stare,
Te libenter sociare
In planctu desidero.
To stand with Thee by the Cross,
and to join with Thee
in mourning Thy loss.
Virgo, virginumpreeclara,
Mihi jam non sis amara:
Fac me tecum plangere.
Virgin supreme among virgins,
be not harsh now to me:
make me to weep with Thee.
Fac, ut portem Christi mortem,
Passionis ejus sortem
Et plagas recolere.
Make me to bear Christ’s death,
grant me a share in His passion
and to reverence His wounds.
Fac me plagis vulnerari,
Cruce hac inebriari
Ob amoren filii.
Make me to be wounded with His wounds,
make me drink the cup of the Cross
and the blood of Thy Son.
Inflammatus et accensus,
Per te, virgo, sim defensus
In die judicii.
That I burn not, consumed with flames,
O Virgin, let me be defended by Thee
In the day of judgement.
Fac me cruce custodiri,
Morte Christipraemuniri,
Confeberi gratia.
Make me to be protected by the Cross,
Strengthened by the death of Christ,
and encouraged by grace.
Quando corpus morietur,
Fac ut animae donetur
Paradisi gloria. When my body shall die
grant that my spirit may be given
the glory of Paradise.