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    • Ben Parry

    • Quem Pastores Laudavere

    • Peters Edition Limited (World)

    Commissioned by the Schola Cantorum of The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, London 2016

    • SSAATTBB
    • SSAATTBB
    • 3 min

    Programme Note

    Scored for double choir, and dedicated to the memory of Denis Hunt, QUEM PASTORES LAUDAVERE is a setting of a 14th century Latin text with an English translation. The choirs sing the texts antiphonally, setting plainchant-inspired unison writing in one choir against chorale-like harmony in the other, culminating is a final exultant verse in eight-part harmony with an additional semi-chorus descant.

    The first performance was given on 20th December 2016 in the Church of Our Lady of Victories, London, sung by the Schola Cantorum of The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, conducted by Scott Price.

    Quem pastores laudavere,
    quibus angeli dixere,
    absit vobis jam timere,
    natus est rex gloriæ.

     

    Ad quem reges ambulabant,
    aurum, thus, myrrham portabant,
    immolabant hæc sincere
    Leoni victoriæ.

     

    Exultemus cum Maria
    In coelesti Hierarchia,
    Natum promat voce pia,
    Dulci cum melodia

     

    Christo regi, Deo nato,
    per Mariam nobis dato,
    merito resonet vere
    Dulci cum melodia.

     

    Angels spoke in glory blazing
    To the shepherds meekly praising
    Now with hopes and wishes raising
    Let us praise the new-born king.

     

    Three Kings made their journey slowly
    To the manger cold and lowly
    Offering to the infant holy
    Gold, incense and myrrh they bring.

     

    Praise with Mary, holy Mother,
    Heavenly host, above all other.
    Each will praise Him, sister, brother,
    Born of honour and of praise.

     

    Christ our King, from God descended
    Through your birth all fear is ended
    Let us sing, our hearts extended
    And our joyful anthem raise.

    English translation © Ben Parry

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