O Jesu me dulcissime - G. Gabrieli

This motet was first published posthumously in Venice, in 1615, in a collection called Symphoniae Sacrae Ioannis Gabrielii. This was a collection of thirty-two motets for six to nineteen parts with basso continuo. This motet, which is in eight parts, separated into two equal SATB choirs of four, is number five in the collection. The motet was written for use on Christmas Day in St Mark’s. The origin of the text is unknown, although Gabrieli made two separate settings of this text, the other being published as part of the aforementioned 1597 collection.

O Jesu me dulcissime,

adoro te in stabulo commorantem.

O puer dilectissime,

adoro te in praesepio iacentem.

O Christe, rex piissime,

adoramus te in faeno cubantem,

in cœlo fulgentem.

O mira Dei pietas!

O singularis charitas!

Christus datus est, Jesu Natus est;

datus est a patre.

Natus est de virgine matre.

O divina ergo proles,

te colimus hic homines

ut veneremur cœlites.

O my most sweet Jesu,

I adore You, abiding in the stable.

O most beloved child,

I worship You lying in the manger.

O Christ, most holy king,

we worship You, asleep in the hay,

resplendent in heaven.

O wondrous compassion of God!

O unique love!

Christ is given, Jesus is born;

he was given by the Father

and born of a virgin mother.

O divine offspring,

as men, we honour You here

that we may worship You as citizens of heaven.

Canzon 18 a5 - Claudio Merulo (1533 – 1604)

Claudio Merulo was born in Correggio, and became principal organist of St Mark’s in 1557, following a competition in which Andrea Gabrieli was an unsuccessful participant. Merulo was on the staff of St Mark’s for over 30 years, and was active in Venice as a publisher of music, as well as an organ consultant, a composer and a teacher. As well as writing church music for festivals at St Marks, he was a prominent madrigalist and composer of instrumental music.

Salvator noster - G. Gabrieli

This motet is also from the 1615 publication, and is in fifteen parts, divided into three choirs of five, by pitch (high / medium / low). The motet was written for use on Christmas Day in St Mark’s. The text is based on the words of the antiphon for the Magnificat used at the second vespers of Christmas (Christmas Day).

Salvator Noster,

hodie dilectissimi natus est,

gaudeamus omnes,

exultet igitur sanctus,

quia appropinquat ad palmam,

gaudeat peccator,

quia invitatur ad veniam,

animetur gentilis,

quia invitatur ad vitam.

Alleluia.

Our Saviour,

dearly beloved, is born today,

let us all rejoice,

let the holy man exult therefore

because he approaches victory,

let the sinner rejoice

because he is summoned to forgiveness,

let the gentile be given courage,

because he is summoned to life.

Alleluia.