Veni Sancte Spiritus
For Soprano, Clarinet and
Baroque String Quartet - Duration: 10:00
Listen:
Allow a minute for the music to load
Veni
Sancte Spiritus, known
as the Golden Sequence, is the sequence for the Mass of Pentecost, in which Christians
celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, fifty days after the
resurrection of Christ at Easter.
My setting reflects two constructive elements in particular: the last line of
the next-to-last stanza makes reference to the "sevenfold gifts" of
the Holy Spirit, and each line of the poem has precisely seven syllables. Also,
each stanza consists of three verses. These numbers were of great spiritual
significance to the poem's author and his readers, as the number seven is symbolic
of the perfection of God, and the number three reflects the theological concept
of the Holy Trinity, of which the Holy Spirit is the third person.
Thus, my use of a pitch language that is limited to the seven notes of an
F-aeolian mode and the prevalence of triple meter together weave this symbolism
into the very fabric of the music.
The piece was undergoing revisions in summer of 2001, and was completed on
September 11, 2001. It contains the postscript, "Requiescant in Pace"
- may they rest in peace.
|
Veni
Sancte Spiritus, et emitte caelitus, lucis tuae radium. Veni
Pater pauperum, veni dator munerum, veni, lumen cordium. Consolator
optime, dulcis hospes animae, dulce refrigerium. In
labore requies, in aestu temperies, in fletu solacium. O
lux beatissima, reple cordis intima, tuorum fidelium. Sine
tuo numine, nihil est in homine, nihil est innoxium. Lava
quod est sordidum, riga quod est aridum, sana quod est saucium. Flecte
quod est rigidum, fove quod est frigidum, rege quod est devium. Da
tuis fidelibus, in te confidentibus, sacrum septenarium. Da
virtutis meritum, da salutis exitum, da perenne gaudium. Amen.
Alleluia. |
|
Come, Holy Spirit; and from your
celestial home; shed divine light. Come, Father of the poor; come, source of
all good things; come, light of our hearts. Best of all comforters, sweet soul's
guest, sweet refresher. In labor, rest; in heat, coolness; in
woe, solace. O most blessed light, fill our inmost
hearts with your faithful love. Without your presence, nothing in man is
good, nothing untainted. Heal us of our sins, quench our inner
thirst, cleanse our souls. Bend our stubborn wills, melt the frozen
heart, lead us back to the true path. Give to your faithful ones, who confess
you, your sevenfold gifts. Give them virtue's reward, give them
salvation, give them eternal joy. Amen.
Alleluia |
Return to home page