PROGRAMME
I. a O VIRGO SPLENDENS [chant, LV: fol. 21v]
I. b O VIRGO SPLENDENS [ canon a 3, LV: fol. 21v]
II. LAUDEMUS VIRGINEM [ canon a 3, LV: fol. 23]
III. SALVE VIRGO [virelais, R: fol. 108] / SPLENDENS CEPTIGERA [ canon a
3, LV: fol. 23]
IV. CEDIT FRIGUS [conductus / virelais a 1, R: fol. 108]
V. POLORUM REGINA [a 1, LV: fol. 24v]
VI. a MARIAM MATREM [vocal, virelais a 3, LV: fol. 25]
VI. b MARIAM MATREM instrumental, virelais a 3, LV: fol. 25]
VII. INPERAYNTZ - VERGES SES PAR [instrumental, virelais a 2, LV: fol. 25v]
VIII. STELLA SPLENDENS [virelais a 2, LV: fol. 22v; instr. prelude: CSM:
No. 48, 52, 57, 113, 302, 311]
IX. LOS SET GOTXS [balada a 1, LV: fol. 23v]
X. AD MORTEM FESTINAMUS [death dance, LV: fol. 26v]
XI. O VIRGO SPLENDENS [organum, LV: fol. 21v]
XII. CEDIT FRIGUS [conductus / virelais a 2, R: fol. 108v]
XIII. CUNCTI SIMIUS CONCANENTES [virelais a 1, LV: fol. 24]
XIV. INPERAYNTZ - VERGES SES PAR
[vocal, virelais a 2, LV: fol. 25v]
[ LV: Llibre Vermell / R: Codex Ripoll, Paris, BN lat. 5132 / CSM: Cantigas
de Santa Maria]
Medieval Spain
had two famous places of pilgrimage: Santiago de Compostela and Santa Maria
de Montserrat.
Situated on a cleft mountain near Barcelona, the monastery of Montserrat
was the center of devotion for the Virgin Mary
for all of Catalonia. The monastery was founded around 1025 as a branch
of the benedictine monastery of Ripoll.
Legend tells us that the Virgin Mary performed miracles there which explains
the fact that the mountain had been
inhabited by hermits as early as the end of the ninth century. During this
time the mountain was reconquered from the "Saracens" and conveyed
to the monastery of Ripoll by the counts Wifredo and Suner.
The monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat originated out of one of the
hermitages. A large number of pilgrims went there, mainly because of their
belief in the wonder-working power of the black statue of the Virgin Mary
which was put up around the year 1200. The monastery was also a cultural
center of the first order: some of the monks had studied at far away universities
like Paris or Bologna. Clerics from noble Spanish families, mostly from
Catalonia, represented the aristocracy in Montserrat through their celebration
of daily masses.
This is how Montserrat became the spiritual, cultural and political center
of Catalonia.
With the conquests of the Catalon-Aragonese crown, Montserrat became "famous"
worldwide:
Churches were built in honour of the Virgin from Montserrat in Mexico, Chile
and Peru. In the colonies, islands and settlements were named after her.
After the almost complete devastation of the monastery by Napoleon in 1811,
Montserrat regained its former significance only during the Catalonian 'Renaixença'
at the end of the nineteenth century.
The most precious
treasure from the library of Montserrat is a codex from the late fourteenth
century, the 'Llibre Vermell' or 'Red Book'. The manuscript is named after
it's red velvet cover which stems from the late 19th century.
35 of the original 172 sheets in folio of this manuscript are lost today.
Besides various other contents, mainly for liturgical use, one of the fascicles
(folio 21v - 27r) contains ten musical works (notated during the years 1396-1399).
The anonymous scribe
explains the intended function of the pieces which were copied by him:
Quia interdum peregrini quando vigilant in ecclesia Beate Marie de Monte
Serrato volunt cantare et trepudiare, et etiam in platea de die, et ibi
non debeant nisi honestas ac devotas cantilenas cantare, idcirco superius
et inferius alique sunt scripte. Et de hoc uti debent honeste et parce,
ne perturbent perseverantes in orationibus et devotis contemplationibus.
"As it happens that the pilgrims, while holding night vigil in the
church of the Blessed Virgin from Montserrat, sometimes desire to sing and
to dance and even so during the day, in the Church Square, where only virtuous
and pious songs may be sung, some suitable songs have been written down
here for this need. These should be used in a respectful and moderate manner,
so as not to disturb those who wish to continue their prayers and religious
contemplations."
Since there was no pilgrims hostel at Montserrat, the visitors spent the
night in the church, thus rearranging the liturgical room into a hostel.
The songs of the Llibre Vermell were meant to replace the traditional secular
songs and dances performed by the celebrating pilgrims during the night
vigil. Fitting to this task, the "Cants dels Romeus", the songs
of the pilgrims, have a popular tone. Some Spanish traditional melodies
were probably also used, but their original lyrics were substituted by religious
texts which should communicate essential points of the christian doctrine
of salvation to the faithful. The erudite and and well-travelled monks from
Montserrat also combined musical influences from different European regions.
They created a unique amalgamation of simple Spanish folk melodies and complex,
courtly compositional techniques from Italy and France, maybe with the help
of musicians from the internationally composed royal chapel of Aragon. Perhaps
individual pieces already existed as courtly songs and were only given religious
lyrics by the monks.
The opening Choral "O virgo splendens" seems to be a liturgical
chant but is, in reality, a skilful 'composition' from different textual
and musical sources, amongst others the antiphon "O virgo visa".
The melodic structure allows it to be performed as a two or three - voice
canon. The same is true for "Laudemus virginem" and "Splendens
ceptigera". The title of "caça", common to all of
these pieces, shows their relationship to the French "chasse"
or the Italian "caccia".
The two-part "Stella splendens" quotes from the lyrics of the
opening "O virgo splendens". The two-voice structure, notation
and text structure of this 'virelais' clearly show influences of the French
'ars nova'. In our performance, we use two similar chants from the monastery
of Ripoll as instrumental interludes:
The two-part conductus "Cedit frigus" and the "Salve virgo
regia".
"Stella splendens" is introduced with an instrumental prelude
in which the melodies
of the six "Cantigas de Santa Maria" (approx. 1300) describing
the miracles of the Virgin of Montserrat are used.
The songs "Stella splendens", "Los set gotxs" and "Polorum
regina" are explicitly titled "round dances" in the manuscript. Ad
mortem festinamus tells us through its text that it is a death dance. Many
medieval documents - especially from Spain and southern France - report
of dances in the church and within liturgical service. The unrestrained
dances in church which were sometimes accompanied by the fiddles and shawms
of jugglers and minstrels lead to prohibitions and restrictions by the Church.
In the year 1209 the Council of Avignon decided:
Statuimus ut in sanctitum vigiliis in ecclesiis historicae saltationes obscoeni
motus seu choreae non fiant nec dicantur amatoria carmina vel cantilenae
ibidem.
"We resolve that
during the night vigils for the saints the minstrels should neither perform
dances with obscene movements in the churches, nor should love songs and
similar chants be performed."
" Los set gotxs" is the first extant song in the Catalonian language;
the lyrics are similar in form to the provencal 'balada'.
" Polorum regina" and "Cuncti simus concanentes" are
both 'virelais' in terms of their form.
The melody of "Polorum regina" is still cited in 1577 by the Spanish
music scholar Salinas as the folk song
"Yo me yva mi madre".
"Mariam matrem", a virelais with a texted melody and two accompanying
voices without text, and the double-texted "Imperayntz / Verges ses
par" follow the style of the French 'ars nova'.
The text of the death dance 'Ad mortem festinamus' is derived from the poem
"Contemptus mundi" (1267). With it's absurdly joyful melody and
the deliberately false accented Latin text this death dance is the only
known example which shows an attempt to musically demonstrate the medieval
concept of the 'monde renversé', the world upside-down,
symbol for the vanity of secular hierarchy in the face of the hereafter.
I. O VIRGO SPLENDENS
Antiphona dulcis armonia dulcissime virginis Marie de Monteserrato. Caça
de duobus vel tribus:
O Virgo splendens hic in monte celso Miraculis serrato fulgentibus ubique
quem fideles conscendunt universi.
Eya pietatis occulo placato cerne ligatos fune peccatorum ne infernorum
ictibus graventur sed cum beatis tua prece vocentur.
Antiphon in sweet harmony for the Virgin Mary from Montserrat. Canon in
two or three voices:
O resplendent Virgin, here on the high mountain, glowing with miraculous
wonders,
where the believers from everywhere ascend.
Ah, with your gentle loving eye behold those caught in the bonds of sin,
to let them not suffer the blows of Hell,
but let them be with the blessed by your intercession.
II. LAUDEMUS VIRGINEM
Caça de duobus vel tribus:
Laudemus virginem mater est et ejus filius Ihesus est. Plangemus scelera
acriter Sperantes in Ihesum jugiter.
Canon in two or three voices:
We praise the Virgin Mother and her son Jesus. Vehemently we mourn our sins,
constantly hoping in Jesus.
III. SPLENDENS CEPTIGERA
Caça de duobus vel tribus:
Splendens ceptigera Nostris sis advocata Virgo puerpera. Tundentes pectora
Crimina confitentes Simus altissimo.
Canon in two or three voices:
Shining sovereign be our advocate. Virgin Mother. Beating our breast we
confess our guilt, oh Lord.
V. POLORUM REGINA
A ball redon:
Polorum regina omnium nostra. Stella matutina dele scelera.
Ante partum virgo Deo gravida Semper permansisti inviolata.
Et in partu virgo Deo fecunda Semper permansisti inviolata.
Et post partum virgo mater enixa Semper permansisti inviolata.
As a round dance:
Our sovereign of all heaven, morning star, take away our sins.
Before birth, Virgin, pregnant by God, you remained always inviolate.
And in labour, Virgin, fertile by God, you remained always inviolate.
And after birth, Virgin, Mother, you remained always inviolate.
VI. MARIAM MATREM
Mariam Matrem Virginem attolite Ihesum Christum extollite concorditer.
Maria seculi asilum defende nos. Ihesu tutum refugium exaudi nos.
Iam estis nos totaliter diffugium totum mundi confugium realiter.
Ihesu suprema bonitas verissima. Maria dulcis pietas gratissima.
Amplissima conformiter sit caritas ad nos quos pellit vanitas enormiter.
Maria facta saeculis salvatio. Ihesu damnati hominis redemptio.
Pugnare quem viriliter per famulis percussus duris iaculis atrociter.
Extol Mary,
the Virgin Mother, extol all Jesus Christ.
Mary, asylum for the whole world, protect us. Jesus, refuge all of us, hear
us.
Indeed you are our place of refuge, truly a refuge for the whole world.
Jesus, supreme and truthful good. Mary, sweet and most gracious mercy.
In the same way you show your pity to us, we who are strongly oppressed
by the vanity of life.
Mary was the salvation for all, Jesus the redeem for the damned.
Fighting ardently for their followers, bearing hard beatings and blows.
VIII. STELLA SPLENDENS
Sequitur alia cantilena ad trepudium rotundum:
Stella splendens in monte ut solis radium miraculis serrato exaudi populum.
Concurrunt universi gaudentes populi
divites et egeni grandes et parvuli
ipsum ingrediuntur ut cernunt oculi
et inde revertuntur gracijis repleti.
Principes et magnates
extirpe regia
saeculi potestates obtenta venia
peccaminum proclamant tundentes pectora
poplite flexo clamant hic: Ave Maria.
Prelati et barones comites incliti
religiosi omnes atque presbyteri
milites mercatores cives marinari
burgenses piscatores praemiantur ibi.
Rustici aratores
nec non notarii
advocati scultores cuncti ligni
fabri sartores et sutores nec non lanifici
artifices et omnes gratulantur ibi.
Reginae comitissae
illustres dominae
potentes et ancillae juvenes parvulae
virgines et antiquae pariter viduae
conscendunt et hunc montem et religiosae.
Coetus hic aggregantur
hic ut exhibeant
vota regratiantur ut ipsa et reddant
aulam istam ditantes hoc cuncti videant
jocalibus ornantes soluti redeant.
Cuncti ergo precantes sexus utriusque
mentes nostras mundantes oremus devote
virginem gloriosam matrem clementiae
in coelis gratiosam sentiamus vere.
There follows another song, as a round dance:
Resplendent star on the mountain, like a sunbeam miraculously glowing, hear
the people.
All joyous people come together: rich and poor, young and old,
climb the mountain to see with their own eyes, and return from it filled
with grace.
Rulers and magnates of royal stirpes, the mighty of the world, possessing
grace,
proclaim their sins, beating their breast, and call on bended knee: Ave
Maria.
Prelates and barons with their noble suite, all monks and also priests,
soldiers, merchands, citizens, sailors, townspeople and fishermen are praising
here.
Peasants, ploughmen and also scribes, advocates, stone-masons and all carpenters,
tailors and shoemakers and also weavers, all craftsmen thank here.
Queens, countesses, illustrious ladies of power and maidens, young girls,
virgins and old women and widows, climb the mountain, and also nuns.
The community is gathered here to make a vow, to give thanks and to fulfil
the vow for the glory of this place,
so that all may see and return in joy, partaking of salvation.
We shall all - of both sexes - pray, and full of humility confess our sins
to the glorious virgin,
mother of clemency, so that in heaven we may be with the merciful.
IX. LOS SET GOTXS
Ballada dels goytxs de Nostre Dona en vulgar cathallan a ball redon:
Los set gotxs recomptarem et devotament xantant
humilment saludarem la dolça verge Maria.
Ave Maria gracia plena Dominus tecum Virgo serena.
Verge fos anans del part pura e sans falliment
en lo part e prés lo part sens negun corrumpiment.
Lo Fill de Déus Verge pia de vós nasque verament.
Verge tres reys d'Orient cavalcant amb gran corage
al l'estrella precedent vengren al vostré bitage.
Offerint vos de gradatge Aur et mirre et encenç.
Verge estant dolorosa per la mort del Fill molt car
romangues tota joyosa can lo vis resuscitar.
A vos madre piadosa prima se volch demostrar.
Verge lo quint
alegratge que'n agues del fill molt car
estant al munt d'olivatge Al cell l'on vehes puyar.
On aurem tots alegratge Si per nos vos plau pregar.
Verge quan foren complitz los dies de pentecosta
Ab vos eren aunits los apostols et de costa.
Sobre tots sens nuylla costa devallà l'espirit sant.
Verge'l derrer
alegratge que'n agues en aquest mon
vostre Fill ab coratge vos munta al cel pregon.
On sots tots temps coronada regina perpetual.
Ballad of the joys of Our Lady in Catalan, as a round dance:
We tell you of the seven joys and sing with devotion, humbly greeting the
sweet Virgin Mary.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord may be with you, serene Virgin.
Virgin, before your labour you were pure and faultless,
from your labour and after it you remained uncorrupted;
The son of God was truly born of you, pious Virgin.
Virgin, three Kings from the Orient, riding with great courage,
following the star, they arrived at your house.
They offered you - one after the other - gold and myrrh and incense.
Virgin, being grieved by the death of your beloved son,
you are now full of joy, having seen him revive.
He wanted to appear first to you, merciful mother.
Virgin, the fifth joy that you received from your beloved son happened when,
on Mount Olive, you saw him ascend to Heaven.
We will be full of joy if you pray for us.
Virgin, after the days of Pentecost,
the apostles and the others were united by you.
Above all came the Holy Spirit.
Virgin, the last joy you do not find on this world;
your son takes you to heaven with great courage,
where you will remain crowned for all time, perpetual queen.
X. AD MORTEM FESTINAMUS
Ad mortem festinamus
peccare desistamus.
Scribere proposui de contemptu mundano ut degentes seculi non mulcentur
in vano.
Iam est hora surgere a sompno mortis pravo.
Vita brevis breviter
in brevi finietur mors venit velociter quae neminem veretur.
Omnia mors perimit et nulli miseretur.
Ni conversus fueris et sicut puer factus et vitam mutaveris in meliores
actus
intrare non poteris regnum Dei beatus.
Tuba cum sonuerit dies erit extrema et iudex advenerit vocabit sempiterna
electos in patria prescitos ad inferna.
Quam felices fuerint qui cum Christo regnabunt facie ad faciem sic eum adspectabunt
Sanctus Dominus Sabaoth conclamabunt.
Et quam tristes fuerint qui eterne peribunt pene non deficient nec propter
has obibunt.
Heu heu miseri numquam inde exibunt.
Cuncti reges seculi et in mundo magnates advertant et clerici omnesque potestates
fiant velut parvuli dimitant vanitates.
Heu fratres karissimi si digne contemplemus passionem Domini amara et si
flemus
ut pupillam oculi servabit ne peccemus.
Alma Virgo virginum in celis coronata apud tuum filium sis nobis advocata
Et post hoc exilium occurens mediata.
Vila cadaver eris cur non peccare vereris.
Cur intumescere quearis. Ut quid peccuniam quearis. Quid vestes pomposas
geris.
Ut quid honores quearis. Cur non paenitens confiteris. Contra proximum non
laeteris.
We hurry towards
death, let us desist from sin.
I have resolved to write about the contempt of the world, so that this degenerate
age will not pass in vain.
Now is the hour to rise from the evil sleep of death.
Life is short, and shortly it will end; death arrives faster than anyone
believes.
Death annihilates all and has mercy with no-one.
If you donŐt turn back and become pure as a child, change your live by good
deeds,
you will not enter blessed the kingdom of God.
When the horn sounds for the last day, the Judge appears and calls the chosen
for ever to his kingdom,
the damned to hell.
How happy will those be, who will reign with Christ, seeing him face to
face they will all call:
Holy Lord Zebaoth.
And how miserable will the eternally damned be,
they cannot free themselves and will be ruined.
Woe, woe, cry the wretched ones,
they will never escape from there.
All earthly kings, all mighty man of this world, all clerics and all powerful
officials must change;
they have to become like children, renouncing vainglory.
Alas, dearest brothers, it is decent that we contemplate the bitter sufferings
of God,
and weep, vowing never more to sin.
Generous Virgin among virgins, crowned in heaven, be our advocate with your
son,
and be our mediator after this exile.
You will be a worthless cadaver; why do not guard against sinning?
Why do you seek for anger? Why do you demand money?
Why do you wear splendid clothes? What marks of respect do you demand?
Why do you not confess your guilt? Why do you not befriend your neighbour?
XIII. CUNCTI SIMUS CONCANENTES
A ball redon:
Cuncti simus concanentes Ave Maria.
Virgo sola existente
en affuit angelus Gabriel est appellatus atque missus celitus.
Clara facieque dixit: Ave Maria. Clara facieque dixit: audite karissimi.
En concipies Maria Pariesque filium audite karissimi Vocabis eum Ihesum.
As a round dance:
Let us all sing together: Hail Mary.
When the Virgin was alone, an angel appeared.
He is called Gabriel and is sent from Heaven.
Radiant he said: Hail Mary.
Radiant he said (listen my dear ones): You will conceive, Mary.
You will bear a son (listen my dear ones).
You will call him Jesus.
XIV. INPERAYNTZ
DE LA CIUTAT JOYOSA - VERGES SES PAR
Imperayntz de la ciudad joyosa
de paradis ab tot gaug eternal
neta de crims de virtutz habundosa
mayres de Dieu per obra divinal
verges plasen ab fas angelical
axi com sotz a Dieu molt graciosa
placaus estar als fizels piadosa
preyan per lor al rey celestial.
Rosa flagran de vera benenanca
fons de merce jamays no defallen
palays d'onor on se fech l'alianca
de deu e d'hom per nostre salvamen
e fo ver Dieus es hom perfetamen
ses defallir en alcuna substanca
e segons hom mori senes dubtanca
e com ver Dieus levech del monimen.
Flor de les flor
dolca clement et pia
l'angel de Dieu vesem tot corrocat
e par que Dieus lamandat qu'ens alcia
don el es prest ab l'estoch affilat.
Donchos placa vos que'l sia comandat
qu'estoyg l'estoch e que remes nos sia
tot fallimen tro en lo presen dia
ens done gaug e patz e sanitat.
Empress of the joyous city of paradise, eternally happy, purified of sin,
abounding in virtues, Mother of God,
by divine order; pleasing Virgin with angelic face, because you are so gracious
for God,
be pityful with the faithful, pious one, praying for them to the celestial
king.
Fragrant rose of true goodness, source of virtues which never failed, palace
of honour,
where the alliance was made, between god and man, for our salvation.
Who saw God become a perfect man without any failing, and - according to
man -
died without any doubt and rised from the tomb as the true God .
Flower of flowers, sweet, merciful and pious, we see the grim angel of God,
and because God sent him to punish,
he is ready for it, with raised sword.
Let it be your will that he is ordered not to raise the sword, and that
our failings may be forgiven to the present day,
and that we may receive joy, peace and health.
Verges ses par misericordiosa
de vos se tany quens defenats de mal
e no siats devas nos endenyosa
pels fallimentz que fem en general.
Mas quens cubratz ab lo manto real
de pietat pus quen etz cupiosa
car totz em faytz d'avol pasta fangosa
per que'l fallir es de carn humenal.
Vexell de patz
corona d'esperanca
port de salut be segur de tot ven
vos merexets de tenir la balanca
on es pesat be dreyturerarem.
E pesa mays vostre fill excellen
mort en la crotz per nostra delivranca
quels peccats d'om en fayt nen cobeganca
al be fizel confes e peniden.
Estel de mar qui los perillans guia
e'ls fay venir al bona salvetat
si Jesu Christ obeir no volia
co que per vos li sera supplicat
mostratz-li'els pitz don l'avetz alletat
et totz los santz ab la gran jerarchia
de paradis qui us faran companya
tot quan voiretz vos er ben autreyat.
Virgin out of mercy, trusted by those who are to be defended from evil.
And do not be enraged by the failures which we always commit, but give us
shelter under your royal coat of mercy,
because who is abounding in virtues can improve ordinary mud, since failure
is of human flesh.
Vessel of peace, crown of hope, port of health, certain for all, you merit
to hold the scale on which virtue is weighed,
and your excellent son, who died on the cross for our deliverance,
weighs more than the sins commited amongst those, who confess and do penance.
Star of the sea, who guides us through perils, so that we can safely reach
the harbour,
if Jesus Christ does not wish to obey what is requested through you, then
show him the breasts that suckled him, and all the saints from the great
hierarchy of paradise who will be in your company:
Everything you wish will be granted, and much more.