top of page

Malta Tour
Programme texts and translations

Individual concert programmes will be selected from the following:

Descendi in hortum meum (Anonymous Scottish)

 

Descendi in hortum meum, ut viderem poma convallium, et inspicerem si floruisset vinea, et germinassent mala punica. Revertere, revertere, Sulamitis, ut intueamur te. 

 

I went down into my garden to see the fruits of the valleys, and to see whether the vine flourished and the pomegranates ripened. Return, return, O Shulamite, that we may look upon thee. 

Song of Songs 6, vv. 10 and 12 

 

Si quis diligit (David Peebles d.c1579)

 

Si quis diligit me sermonem meum servabit et pater meus diliget eum et ad eum veniemus et mansionem aput eum faciemus. Alleluia

 

If anyone loves me, they will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them, and make our home with them. Alleluia.

John 14: 23

 

Dum transisset sabbatum (John Taverner c.1490-1545)

 

Dum transisset Sabbatum, Maria Magdalene et Maria Jacobi et Salome emerunt aromata, ut venientes ungerent Jesum. Alleluia.

Et valde mane una Sabbatorum veniunt ad monumentum orto iam sole.

Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.

 

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Jesus. Alleluia.

And very early in the morning on the first day after the Sabbath they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

Mark 16: 1

 

Ego sum panis vivus (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina 1525-1594)

 

Ego sum panis vivus. Patres vestri manducaverunt manna in deserto, et mortui sunt. Hic est panis de coelo descendens: si quis ex ipso manducaverit, non morietur.

 

I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 

John 6: 48-50

Sicut cervus (Palestrina)

 

Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum: ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus. Sitivit anima mea ad Deum fortem vivum: quando veniam et apparebo ante faciem Dei?

Fuerunt mihi lacrimae meae panes die ac nocte, dum dicitur mihi quotidiae: Ubi est Deus tuus?

 

As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?

My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, “Where is your God?”

Psalm 42: 1-3

 

Super flumina (Palestrina)

 

Super flumina Babylonis illic sedimus et flevimus, cum recordaremur Sion. In salicibus in medio ejus, suspendimus organa nostra.

 

By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept when we remembered thee, Sion. Upon the willow trees that are in the midst of her, did we hang our harps.

Psalm 137: 1-2

 

Ave verum corpus (William Byrd c.1540-1623)

 

Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine, vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine: Cujus latus perforatum, unde fluxit sanguine. Esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine: O Dulcis, O pie, O Jesu fili Mariae, miserere mei. Amen. 

 

Hail true body, born of the Virgin Mary. Truly suffering, was sacrificed on the cross for all, from whose pierced side flowed blood, be for us a foretaste in the final judgment. O sweet, O merciful, O Jesus, Son of Mary, have mercy on me. Amen. 

Pope Innocent III or IV

 

Ego sum qui sum (Giovanni Gabrieli c.1553-1612)

 

Ego sum qui sum, et consilium meum non est cum impiis: sed in lege Domini voluntas mea est: Alleluia. Postulavi patrem meum dedit mihi, gentes in haereditatem: Alleluia. Ego dormivi, et somnum cepi, et resurrexi: quoniam Dominus suscepit me: Alleluia.

 

I am who I am, and my counsel is not with the wicked: but my will is in the law of the Lord: Alleluia. I asked my Father, and he gave me the nations for an inheritance: Alleluia. I slept, and took a nap, and arose: for the Lord took me up: Alleluia.

Matins text for Easter Sunday, derived from Exodus 3: 14

 

Regina Coeli (Giovanni Croce 1557-1609)

 

Regina coeli, laetare, alleluia. Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia. Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

 

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For he, whom you did merit to bear, alleluia, has risen as he said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

 

Ave maris stella (Claudio Monteverdi)

 

Ave maris stella, Dei Mater alma, atque semper Virgo, felix caeli porta.

Hail, O Star of the ocean, God's own Mother blest, ever sinless Virgin, gate of heavenly rest.

 

Sumens illud Ave Gabrielis ore, funda nos in pace, mutans Hevae nomen.

 

Taking that sweet Ave, which from Gabriel came, peace confirm within us, changing Eve's name.

 

Solve vincula reis, profer lumen caecis mala nostra pelle, bona cuncta posce.

 

Break the sinners' fetters, make our blindness day, chase all evils from us, for all blessings pray.

 

Sit laus Deo Patri, summo Christo decus, Spiritui Sancto, tribus honor unus. Amen.

 

Praise to God the Father, honour to the Son, in the Holy Spirit, be the glory one. Amen.

 

Os justi (Anton Bruckner 1824-1896)

 

Os justi meditabitur sapientiam: et lingua ejus loquetur judicium. Lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius: et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus. Alleluia.

 

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. The law of his God is in his heart: and his feet do not falter. Alleluia.

Psalm 37: 30-31

 

Missa Aeterna Christi Munera (Palestrina)

 

Victimae pascali (Palestrina)

 

Victimae paschali laudes immolent Christiani, Agnus redemit oves, Christus innocens Patri reconciliavit peccatores. Mors et vita duello conflixere mirando, dux vitae mortuus regnat vivus. Dic nobis Maria quid vidisti in via? Sepulcrum Christi viventis et gloriam vidi resurgentis. Angelicos testes sudarium, et vestes. Surrexit Christus spes mea, praecedet suos vos in Galilaeam. Scimus Christum surrexisse a mortuis vere, tu nobis, victor Rex, miserere. Amen, Alleluia.

 

Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise. The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb; and Christ, the undefiled, hath sinners to his Father reconciled. Death with life contended: combat strangely ended! Life's own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign. Tell us, Mary: say what thou didst see upon the way. The tomb the Living did enclose; I saw Christ's glory as He rose! The angels there attesting; shroud with grave-clothes resting. Christ, my hope, has risen: He goes before you into Galilee. That Christ is truly risen from the dead we know. Victorious King, Thy mercy show! Amen. Alleluia. 

 

Alleluia (Andrea Gabrieli 1532-85)

 

Alleluia.

bottom of page