Arvo Pärt - Seven Magnificat Antiphons I-IV

Seven Magnificat Antiphons, for chorus (1988-1991)

I. O Weisheit
II. O Adonai
III. O Spross aus Isais Wurzel
IV. O Schlüssel Davids
V. Morgenstern
VI. O König aller Völker
VII. O Immanuel

Polyphony
Stephen Layton

Composed 1988 and revised 1991. Written for the RIAS Chamber Choir in Berlin (Pärt's city of residence since 1982). These antiphons, each endowed with a very particular personality by Pärt, are assigned in the liturgy to the seven days leading up to Christmas Eve.

Arvo Pärt's early choral works -- those in the so-called tintinnabular style -- were composed almost exclusively to Latin texts. However, after his relocation to Germany the composer began to embrace the German language in his music, as evidenced by his Seven Magnificat Antiphons. The texts that make up this work would normally occur, individually, as antiphons to the Magnificat at Vespers on the seven evenings preceding Christmas Eve. Pärt, however, turned them into a single work in seven sections. These Antiphons should not be confused with Pärt's setting of the actual Magnificat text, which he composed in 1989.

These austere settings -- like so much of Pärt's choral music evocative of the sacred music of the Middle Ages or Renaissance -- are scored for mixed choir. Sometimes the musical content is so minimal as to evoke the quality of simple recitation. There is a dark quality in parts of the work, such as "O Adonai" or "O Spross aus Israels Wurzel." In "O Morgenstern," Pärt combines major and minor modes to evoke the Morning Star. The gradual crescendo of "O König aller Völkern" leads into the quiet opening of the concluding "O Immanuel," with its subtly dissonant chromatic shifts. [Allmusic.com]

Category:

Music

Tags:

• part
• polyphony
• layton
• seven
• magnificat
• antiphons
• chorus

[Patience1138]

I remain largely skeptical of more recent composers. However, I cannot in good conscience criticize such a quality composer. Thank you for sharing this!

[Hans293]

O Weisheit, hervorgegangen aus dem Munde des Höchsten,

die Welt umspannst du von einem Ende zum andern,

in Kraft und Milde ordnest du alles :

O komm und offenbare uns den Weg der Weisheit und der Einsicht.

O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the Most High,

Thou encirclest the world from one end to the other,

Thou orderest all things with might and mercy:

O come to us and reveal the way of wisdom and of understanding.

[Hans293]

O Adonai, der Herr und Führer des Hauses Israel,

im flammender Dornbusch bist du dem Moses erschienen,

und hast ihm auf dem Berg das Gesetz gegeben.

O komm und befreie uns mit deinem starken Arm.

O Adonai, the Lord and Leader of the House of Israel,

In the burning bush Thou hast appeared unto Moses

and hast given him the law upon the mountain:

O come and deliver us with Thy strong arm.

[Hans293]

O Sproß aus Isais Wurzel,

gesetzt zum Zeichen für die Völker,

vor dir verstummen die Herrscher der Erde, dich flehen an die Völker:

o komm und errette uns, erhebe dich, säume nicht länger.

O Scion of the Root of Jesse,

set as a sign for the nations,

before Thee the rulers of the earth fall silent, unto Thee the people cry:

O come and save us, bestir Thyself, delay no longer.

[Hans293]

O Schlüssel Davids, Zepter des Hauses Israel,

du öffnest, und niemand kann schließen,

du schließt, und keine Macht vermag zu öffnen:

o komm und öffne den Kerker der Finsternis und die Fessel des Todes.

O Key of David, Sceptre of the House of Israel,

Thou openest, and no one can shut,

Thou shuttest, and no power may open:

O come and unlock the dungeon of darkness and the fetters of death.

[Aubury]

dear me this is quality