Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus

Pope Innocent VI (1282-1362) and Mozart (1756-1791) meditate on the sacrament of Holy Communion in the motet "Ave Verum Corpus."

Watch in HD: http://youtube.com/watch?v=OY5Bg6Nk6Gc&fmt=18

Guide to Images:
Image #1 - http://www.tldm.org/directives/d147.htm
Image #2 - Fra Angelico "Tranfiguration" c. 1440
Image #3 - Orazio Gentileschi "Madonna and Child" 1610
Image #4 - William-Adolphe Bouguereau "Pieta" 1876
Image #5 - Tintoretto "Crucifixion" (1518-1594)
Image #8 - Caravaggio "Doubting Thomas" 1602
Image #9 - Meister Frankce "Man of Sorrows" c. 1435
Image #15 - Boticelli "Last Communion of St. Jerome" 1495
Image #17 - http://thewindowshowsitall.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html

Recording from: Essential Mozart: 32 Of His Greatest Masterpieces

http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Mozart-His-Greatest-Masterpieces/dp/B00005A8JZ

Please note that my translation from the Latin is not literal. It is meant to be an interpretation.

Original Latin text:
Ave, ave verum corpus
Natum de Maria Virgine,
Vere passum, immolatum
in cruce pro homine.
Cuius latus perforatum
unda fluxit et sanguine.
Esto nobis praegustatum
in mortis examine.
in mortis examine.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• mozart
• classical
• sacred
• ave
• verum
• corpus
• roman
• catholic
• communion
• body
• of
• jesus
• christ
• christian
• philosophy
• holy
• miracle
• mass
• pope
• benedict
• bach
• beethoven
• choir
• kings
• college
• oxford
• happy
• easter

[MusicismyheartXO]

It always makes the hairs on my body stand up to hear 2:03, the "Esta" entry is the most heavenly thing on earth. I'm not religious, but hearing this makes me want to respond to a higher being and just....Dedicate my life to serve him. :-)

[ernestalba]

I agree, even on purely musical terms, it's a beautiful moment of suspended energy...I should correct you a bit - the Latin for "this body" is "esto nobis" with an "o" and not an "a."

[Fretkillr]

I'd be nice to post the name of the choir and not just a link to the CD. This is The Choir of New College of Oxford - Edward Higginbottom - choir master

[ernestalba]

It would be nice, which is why I did it. Watch the end of the video. It's not Higginbottom that is leading them.

[lucyalba]

The paintings were really nice in this, like rich in texture. It was kind of a twist when you got to the photos, but a good one. Was that a priest in military bullet proof vest?

[ernestalba]

It was a chaplain. I wanted the photos to show that this wasn't just a historical or artistic presentation, but a religious one that should reveal some truth about Jesus (at least, the Church's interpretation of Jesus) to real people living today.

[chorister51]

Very moving. Beautiful

[1943hide]

地獄見たい・・・・・・・・・・・

[1943hide]

かわいそう・・・・・・

[TheChill4u]

This Video It's Marvellous, I Love It! :-)

[wildmustang184]

Wonderful video and a splendid performance from the boys at King's. Have a blessed feast of Corpus Christi, everyone!

[schuzart]

Thankyou for posting this, one of the best interpretations I have ever heard, I find so many are rushed. For me this is at a perfect tempo, to allow the listener to fully appreciate the absolute heavenly magic that Mozart created. It moves me to a new world, I am not religous but I would think that only with a real belief in God could someone compose such music, and that brings you somewhere close to God.

[chester3]

@ernestalba If this were Spanish, "esto" would mean "this". But in Latin, "Esto" means "Be" (as an imperative, or command). This line, "Esto nobis praegustatum" means "Be for us a foretaste," that is, a foretaste of heaven.

[chester3]

@ernestalba If this were Spanish, "esto" would mean "this". But in Latin, "Esto" means "Be" (as an imperative, or command). So this line, "Esto nobis praegustatum" means "Be for us a foretaste," that is, a foretaste of heaven.

[CatholicView]

I like Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus, a little better than William Byrds' rendition. Although both are very good.

[camtheorganman]

so good