Credo
For SATB choir -
Duration: 12:00
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CREDO is a setting (in the original Latin) of the Nicene Creed, the core creedal statement of Christendom. Music history is replete with superb works inspired by this text, and I admit I came to this task with a mixture of awe and humility. This work extends the harmonic procedures employed in my chamber work, IN THIS PLACE a trio for clarinet, violin and piano. In that piece, I used a radically pure harmonic language consisting of just the seven notes of the aeolian mode, with no transpositions or chromatic alterations. The present work relaxes those restrictions somewhat, allowing for the necessary harmonic contrast that a text so rich in content and contrasts demands. My goal, though, is still the same: to write music that weds dramatic action to a sense of timelessness.
CREDO was
written especially for The San Francisco Chamber Singers. I am grateful to Robert Geary and the
Singers for the opportunity to write such a challenging work, with the
confidence that it would be performed to the highest artistic standards.
This
recording was made at the premiere on the COMPOSERS, INC. series in October,
2000.
Credo in unum Deum, I
believe in one God,
Patrem omnipotentem, the
Father Almighty,
factorum coeli et terrae, maker
of heaven and earth,
visibilium omnium et invisibilium. and
all things visible and invisible.
Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, And
in one Lord Jesus Christ,
Filium Dei unigenitum, only-begotten
Son of God,
Et ex Patre natum ante omnia
saecula. and
born of the Father before all ages.
Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, God
of God, light of light,
Deum verum de Deo vero; true
God of true God;
Genitum, non factum; begotten,
not made;
consubstantialem Patri; consubstantial
with the Father;
per quem omnia facta sunt. by
Whom all things were made.
Qui propter nos homines Who
for us men
et propter salutem and
for our salvation
descendit de coelis. came
down from heaven.
Et incarnatus est And
was made incarnate
de Spiritu Sancto by
the Holy Spirit
ex Maria Virgine; out
of the Virgin Mary;
et homo factus est. and
was made man.
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis; He
was crucified also for us;
sub Pontio Pilato suffered
under Pontius Pilate
passus et sepultus est. died
and was buried.
Et resurrexit tertia die, And
the third He rose again,
secundum Scripturas. according
to the Scriptures.
Et ascendit in coelum: And
ascended into heaven:
Sedet ad dexteram Patris. He
sits at the right hand of the Father.
Et iterum venturus est cum gloria And
He shall come again with glory
judicare vivos et mortuos; to
judge the living and the dead;
cujus regni no erit finis. of
whose Kingdom there shall be no end.
Et in Spiritum Sanctum, And
in the Holy Spirit,
Dominum et vivificantem; the
Lord and giver of life;
qui ex Patre who
proceeds from
Filioque procedit, from
the Father and the Son,
qui cum Patre et Filio who
with the Father and the Son together
simul adoratur et conglorificatur; is
worshipped and glorified;
qui locutus est per Prophetas. who
spoke by the Prophets.
Et unum sanctum catholicam And
in one holy catholic
et apostolicam Ecclesiam. and
apostolic church.
Confiteor unum baptisma I
confess one baptism
in remissionem peccatorum. for
the remission of sins.
Et
exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum, And
I await the resurrection of the dead,
et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen. and
the life of the world to come. Amen.
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