The Gesualdo Six:English Motets

St Martin-in-the-FieldsTrafalgar Square

London WC2N 4JJ

020 7766 1100 www.smitf.org

Available to watch as many times as you like from 7.30pm, Thursday 15 April 2021, and available for 30 days.

PROGRAMME

Come, Holy Ghost – Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)

Ave verum corpus – William Byrd (c.1539/40-1623)

Aspice Domine – Byrd

Veni Sancte Spiritus – John Dunstaple (c.1390-1453)

Ave Maria Mater Dei – William Cornysh (1465-1523)

All people, clap your hands – Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623)

Viri Galilaei – Byrd (c.1539/40-1623)

Christe qui lux es et dies I – Robert White (c.1538-1574)

If ye love me – Thomas Tallis (c.1505-1585)

If ye be risen again with Christ – Christopher Tye (c.1505-1572/73)

A new commandment – William Mundy (c.1529-1591)

Laudate pueri Dominum – Byrd

Loquebantur – Tallis

Drop, drop slow tears – Gibbons

PROGRAMME NOTESby Sarah Maxted

The sublime choral music of the English Renaissance was shaped by seismic shifts in religious politics. Tudor England was Catholic until Henry VIII’s controversial separation from Rome in 1534; his heir Edward VI ruled a Protestant nation, then six years later the country returned to Catholicism under Mary I. When Elizabeth I came to power in 1558, she established the Church of England but maintained a pragmatic partial tolerance of Catholicism, hoping to foster a period of peace and stability – an aim upheld by her successor James I, despite unrest and conspiracy. The leading composers of this tumultuous period responded to the challenges of political change with remarkable flexibility and innovation. In this beautiful programme by The Gesualdo Six, we witness the rich tapestry of faith, artistry and resilience expressed through two hundred years of sacred vocal music.

Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625) was a Gentleman musician of the Chapel Royal, taking up the role shortly after coronation of James I and serving until after his death in 1625. During this time Gibbons composed a great range of English madrigals and anthems for the Protestant church. Come, Holy Ghost is an English translation of the Latin hymn Veni Creator Spiritus by George Wither, published in his 1623 collection Hymnes and Songs of the Church.

The long and celebrated career of William Byrd (c.1539/40-1623) traversed the religious turbulence of the late Tudors and the reign of James I. As a result, Byrd’s works encompass exquisite settings of both English and Latin texts, but his Roman Catholic sympathies and recusancy shine through his volumes of Latin motets, particularly those published during his later years. Ave verum corpus is from the first volume of Byrd’s Gradualia ac cantiones sacrae. Published in 1605, the collection was temporarily banned in the aftermath of the Gunpowder Plot against James I, when anti-Catholic sentiment was especially volatile.

Earlier, in 1575, Byrd had worked together with Thomas Tallis to print one of the first sets of sacred music in England, Cantiones Sacrae. The pieces were contributed in equal number by the two composers, Byrd still in his youth and Tallis approaching old age. One of Byrd’s compositions for the collection was Aspice Domine, a lament for a once resplendent city, now laid low. This is an example of Byrd’s support for the Catholic plight through his works. Despite some degree of tolerance during the Elizabethan age, Catholics were persecuted for practising their religion openly, so Byrd emphasised themes of exile and desolation in his choice of biblical texts.

John Dunstaple (c.1390-1453) was a significant composer of late medieval period but, sadly, most of his manuscripts were lost during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII. Veni Sancte Spiritus is an isorhythmic motet, setting the Catholic liturgical sequence for Pentecost.

Ave Maria Mater Dei is a motet from the Eton Choirbook, one of the precious few manuscripts of Latin liturgical music which survived the English Reformation. The collection was compiled at the start of the sixteenth century and includes several compositions attributed to William Cornysh. Modern scholars believe this contribution represents the work of two composers, Cornysh the Elder (died c.1502) and Cornysh the Younger (died 1523), a prominent court musician and dramatist.

Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623) was a prolific composer of vocal works who published four volumes English madrigals before focusing his later years on church music. All people, clap your hands is an exultant anthem for Ascension with text based on Psalms 47 and 33, concluding with a luxuriously extended Amen. William Byrd’s effervescent Viri Galilaei also celebrates the feast of Ascension and was published in the second volume of his monumental Gradulia in 1607.

Christe qui lux es et dies is a hymn for compline, the final service of prayers at the end of the church day. This is the first of four settings of the same text by the London-born composer Robert White (c.1538-1574), each of which alternates traditional plainchant with contrastingly harmonised verse.

Thomas Tallis (c.1505-1585) was perhaps the foremost composer of English church music in the decades that followed Henry VIII’s break with Rome. In accordance with Thomas Cranmer’s reformed vision for Anglican liturgy, Tallis composed masses and motets with simple, syllabic setting of Latin texts. When Edward VI introduced church services in English, Tallis expanded his range to include anthems in the vernacular. If ye love me is a classic and much-loved example of English Reformation style, primarily homophonic in the opening phrases, then developing into imitative entries which allow the individual voices to be heard in full clarity.

If ye be risen again with Christ is a similarly syllabic anthem written by the composer and organist Christopher Tye (c.1505-1572/3), who was well-connected in the court of Edward VI. Tye is thought to have composed an array of church music in Latin and English but disappointingly few of his works have survived. William Mundy (c.1529-1591) was also an influential composer of the English Reformation. Like his contemporaries Tallis and Tye, Mundy adapted his compositional style to suit the shifting political mandates of the age, which can be heard in the textual clarity of his anthem A new commandment.

Laudate pueri Dominum is another of Byrd’s contributions to the Cantiones Sacrae, published with Tallis in 1575. It is written in florid polyphonic style, adapted from a six-part instrumental fantasia, with a joyful text from Psalms 113, 121 and 123.

The extraordinary versatility of Tallis’ vocal writing can be heard in his vibrant Pentecostal responsory Loquebantur. In great contrast to the simplicity of his English anthems like If ye love me, this work showcases the lavish intricacy that could be explored in Latin polyphony. It was probably written during England’s brief return to Catholicism under the reign Mary I.

Tonight’s programme comes full circle with another timeless hymn tune composed by Orlando Gibbons for Hymnes and Songs of the Church in 1623. Drop, drop slow tears is a devotional poem by the prodigious Renaissance writer Phineas Fletcher. It is often sung to Gibbons’ melody for Passiontide services, allowing the poignancy of the text to resonate through meditative chordal simplicity.

TEXTS & TRANSLATIONS

Come Holy Ghost, the Maker, come;Take in the souls of thine thy place;Thou whom our hearts had being from,Oh, fill them with thy heavenly grace.

Thou art that Comfort from above,The Highest doth by gift impart;Thou spring of life, a fire of love,And the anointing Spirit art.

Ave, verum corpus natum Hail the true body, bornde Maria Virgine: of the Virgin Mary:vere passum, immolatum You who truly suffered and were sacrificedin cruce pro homine: on the cross for the sake of man.cuius latus perforatum From whose pierced flankunda fluxit sanguine: flowed water and blood:esto nobis praegustatum, Be a foretaste for usin mortis examine. in the trial of death.O dulcis, O pie, O Jesu Fili Mariae. O sweet, O merciful, O Jesus, Son of Mary.Miserere mei. Amen. Have mercy on me. Amen.

Aspice, Domine, Behold, O Lord, quia facta est desolata civitas plena divitiis. how the city full of riches is become desolate.Sedet in tristitia; She sits in mourning;Non est qui consoletur eam, nisi tu, there is none to comfort her save only thou, Deus noster. our God.

Veni Sancte Spiritus superiusVeni Sancte Spiritus, Come, Holy Spirit, Et emitte celitus send forth the heavenlyLucis tue radium. radiance of your light.

Veni pater pauperum, Come, father of the poor,Veni dator munerum, come, giver of gifts,Veni lumen cordium. come, light of hearts.Consolator optime, Greatest comforter,Dulcis hospes anime, sweet guest of the soul,Dulce refrigerium. sweet consolation.

In labore requies, In labour, rest,In estu temperies, in heat, temperance,In fletu solacium. in tears, solace.

O lux beatissima, O most blessed light,Reple cordis intima fill the inmost heartTuorum fidelium. of your faithful.

Sine tuo numine, Without your grace,Nihil est in lumine, there is nothing in the light,Nihil est innoxium. nothing that is not harmful.

Lava quod est sordidum, Cleanse that which is unclean,Riga quod est aridum, irrigate that which is dry,Sana quod est saucium. heal that which is wounded.

Flecte quod est rigidum, Bend that which is inflexible,Fove quod est frigidum, warm that which is chilled,Rege quod est devium. correct what is deviant.

Da tuis fidelibus, Give to your faithful,In te confidentibus, those who trust in you,Sacrum septenarium. the sevenfold gifts.

Da virtutis meritum, Grant the reward of virtue,Da salutis exitum, grant the deliverance of salvation,Da perenne gaudium. grant eternal joy.

motetusVeni Sancte Spiritus, Come, Holy Spirit,Et infunde primitus and pour in firstRorem celi gracie. the dew of the gate of heaven.

Precantibus humanitus Divinely save us,Salva nos divinitus praying, in the way of humanity,A serpentis facie from the face of the serpent,

In cuius presencia in whose presence,Ex tua clemencia by your clemency,Tecta sint peccata our sins may be hidden,

Nostraque servicia and our servitude,Corda penitencia with penitent hearts,Tibi fac placata. make you kindly disposed.

Languidorum consolator Consoler of the powerlessEt lapsorum reformator and reformer of the fallenMortis medicina remedy for death

Peccatorum perdonator forgiver of sinsEsto noster expurgator be our purifierEt duc ad divina. and lead us to divine things.

contratenor & tenorVeni creator Spiritus Come, creator Spirit,Mentes tuorum visita, visit the minds of your people;Imple superna gracia, fill with heavenly graceQuae tu creasti pectora. the breasts which you have made.

Qui paraclitus diceris, You who are called comforter,Donum Dei altissimi, the gift of God most high,Fons vivus, ignis, living fountain, fire, charity,caritas Et spiritalis unctio. and spiritual unction.

Tu septiformis munere, You sevenfold in your gifts;Dextre Dei, tu digitus You, finger of God’s right handTu rite promisso Patris You, solemnly by the Father’s promise,Sermone ditans guttura. enriching throats with speech.

Accende lumen sensibus, Ignite a light for our senses,Infunde amorem cordibus, pour love into hearts,Infirma nostri corporis, strengthening the weaknessVirtute firmans perpeti. of our bodies by your perpetual power.

Hostem repellas longius Drive far from us our enemy,Pacemque dones protinus; and grant us peace forthwith;Ductore sic te previo so that with you as our guide going before us,Vitemus omne noxium. we may avoid all harm.

Per te sciamus da Patrem Through you may we know the FatherNoscamus atque Filium, and may we recognise the SonTeque utriusque Spiritum and may we believe in you,Credamus omni tempore. the Spirit of both for all time.

Ave Maria, mater Dei, Hail Mary, mother of God,regina caeli, queen of heaven,domina mundi, mistress of the world,imperatrix inferni, empress of hell:miserere mei have mercy on meet totius populi Christiani; and on all Christian people;et ne permitas nos and do not allow usmortaliter peccare; to commit mortal sins;sed tuam sanctissimam voluntatem but help us to fulfiladimplere. Amen. your most holy will. Amen.

All people, clap your hands, sing loud unto the Lord with a joyful voice.God is gone up with triumph, e'en the Lord with the sound of the trumpet.Praise the Lord with harp, sing unto him with viol and instruments of music.Let us rejoice in the living God from this time forth for evermore. Amen.

Viri Galilaei, Ye men of Galilee, quid statis [admiramini] aspicientes in coelum? why stand ye gazing up into heaven?Hic Jesus, This same Jesus, qui assumptus est a vobis in coelum, which is taken up from you into heaven,sic veniet quemadmodum vidistis eum shall so come in like manner as ye have euntem in coelum. Alleluia. seen him go into heaven. Alleluia.

Christe qui lux es et dies, Christ, who art the light and day,Noctis tenebras detegis, You drive away the darkness of night,Lucisque lumen crederis, You are called the light of light,Lumen beatum praedicans. For you proclaim the blessed light.

Precamur Sancte Domine, We beseech you, Holy Lord,Defende nos in hac nocte, Protect us this night.Sit nobis in te requies, Let us take our rest in you;Quietam noctem tribue. Grant us a tranquil night.

Ne gravis somnus irruat, Let our sleep be free from care;Nec hostis nos surripiat, Let not the enemy snatch us away,Nec caro illi consentiens, Nor flesh conspire within him,Nos tibi reos statuat. And make us guilty in your sight.

Oculi somnum capiant, Though our eyes be filled with sleep,Cor ad te semper vigilet, Keep our hearts forever awake to you. Dextera tua protegat May your right hand protectFamulos qui te diligunt. Your willing servants.

Defensor noster aspice, You who are our shield, behold;Insidiantes reprime, Restrain those that lie in wait.Guberna tuos famulos, And guide your servants whomQuos sanguine mercatus es. You have ransomed with your blood.

Memento nostri Domine Remember us, O Lord,In gravi isto corpore, Who bear the burden of this mortal form;Qui es defensor animae, You who are the defender of the soul,Adesto nobis Domine. Be near us, O Lord.

Deo Patri sit gloria, Glory be to God the Father,Eiusque soli Filio, And to his only Son,Cum Spiritu Paraclito, With the Spirit, Comforter,Et nunc et in perpetuum. Amen. Both now and evermore. Amen.

If ye love me, keep my commandments.And I will pray the Father, and He will give you anotherComforter, that He may ‘bide with you for ever, e’enthe spirit of truth.

If ye be risen again with Christ, seek the things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on heavenly things, and not on things which are on the earth.

A new commandment give I unto you, saith the Lord, that ye love together, as I have loved you, that e'en so ye love one another.

Laudate, pueri, Dominum, Praise the Lord, ye children: laudate nomen Domini: praise ye the name of the Lord.sit nomen Domini benedictum, Blessed be the name of the Lord,ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum. from henceforth now and for ever.Auxilium meum a Domino, My help is from the Lord, qui fecit caelum et terram. who made heaven and earth.Benefac, Domine, bonis et rectis corde. Do good, O Lord, to those that are good, and to the upright of heart.

Loquebantur variis linguis The Apostles spoke in many languages Apostoli magnalia Dei, of the great works of God,prout Spiritus Sanctus dabat eloqui illis, as the Holy Spirit gave them the gift of speech, alleluia. Alleluia.Repleti sunt omnes Spiritu Sancto, They were all filled with the Holy Spirit et coeperunt loqui. and began to speak.

Drop, drop, slow tears,And bathe those beauteous feetWhich brought from HeavenThe news and Prince of Peace.

Cease not, wet eyes,His mercy to entreat;To cry for vengeanceSin doth never cease.

In your deep floodsDrown all my faults and fears;Nor let His eyeSee sin, but through my tears.

Our thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, for supporting the Fresh Horizons concert series at St Martin-in-the-Fields.

This concerts was pre-recorded in the church and edited together before broadcast. The performers and technical crew carefully adhere to all current government regulations for COVID-19.

PERFORMERS

The Gesualdo Six

Director / BassOwain Park

Countertenor

Guy JamesAndrew Leslie Cooper

Tenor

Joseph WicksJosh Cooter

Baritone

Michel Craddock

BassSam Mitchell

The Gesualdo Six is an award-winning British vocal ensemble comprising some of the UK’s finest consort singers, directed by Owain Park. Praised for their imaginative programming and impeccable blend, the ensemble formed in 2014 for a performance of Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories in Cambridge and has gone on to perform at numerous major festivals across UK, Europe, Canada and Australia. Notable highlights include a concert as part of the distinguished Deutschland Radio Debut Series in 2018, and collaborations with the Brodsky Quartet, London Mozart Players, Luxmuralis, William Barton and Matilda Lloyd.

The ensemble often incorporates educational work into its activities, regularly holding workshops for young musicians and composers. The Gesualdo Six has curated two Composition Competitions, with the 2019 edition attracting entries from over three hundred composers around the world. The group have recently commissioned new works from Joanna Ward, Kerensa Briggs, Deborah Pritchard, Joanna Marsh, and Richard Barnard alongside coronasolfège for 6 from Héloïse Werner.

Videos of the ensemble performing a diverse selection of works filmed in Ely Cathedral have been watched by millions online. The group released their debut recording ‘English Motets’ on Hyperion Records in early 2018 to critical acclaim, followed by a festive album of seasonal favourites in late 2019, ‘Christmas’. G6’s latest recording is an album of compline-themed music titled ‘Fading’ which was awarded Vocal & Choral Recording of the Year 2020 by Limelight.

The Gesualdo Six (c. Patrick Allen)

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Other online concerts from St Martin-in-the-Fields:

Peter DonohoeThursday 18 March, 7.30pm

Stainer – The CrucifixionThursday 1 April, 7.30pm

Handel – MessiahThursday 8 April, 7.30pm

The Gesualdo SixThursday 15 April, 7.30pm

Academy of St Martin in the Fields with John ButtThursday 22 April, 7.30pm

Chineke! Chamber EnsembleThursday 29 April, 7.30pm

All concerts are available to watch from 30 days after their release date

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