Holy Week 2020 - Maria plena virtute
With the UK in lockdown, Holy Week has taken on a different atmosphere. Without concerts and church services to perform the wonderful music for this period, musicians have turned to social media as the only outlet for musical expression.
Our modest offering to this week’s musical menu is in the form of three excerpts from Robert Fayrfax’s epic Maria plena virtute, a Tudor version of the Seven Last Words (although Fayrfax only sets six of Christ’s final utterances). We have selected three passages - a duet, trio and tutti - each with contrasting textures and colours. We performed the piece in full in the Lady Chapel of Chichester Cathedral in 2019, and these videos were filmed during our rehearsal on the day of the concert.
In paradiso
The first is the stunning soprano and tenor duet from early in the piece which sets the following text:
Sicut tuus filius petiit pro crucifigentibus,
Thus did your son intercede for those crucifying him,
’Pater, dimitte ignorantibus’, magna pietate.
saying with great holiness, ‘Father, let the ignorant go free.’
Pedens in latronibus dixit uni ex hominibus,
Hanging between the thieves he said to one of the men,
’In paradiso cum patribus mecum eris hodie.’
’Today you will be in paradise with me and your fathers.’
Consummatum
The second passage is a trio for lower voices which sets two of Christ's final utterances. The close imitation and dense harmony creates a sense of a single - if fractured - voice, enduring the suffering of crucifixion. However, there is a glimmer of hope following the word 'Consummatum' (It is finished), when an extended melismatic phrase offers space for reflection and acceptance.
Jesu, dicens clamasti, ‘Deus meus, quid dereliquisti?’
O Jesus, you cried out saying, ‘My God, why has thou forsaken me?’
Per acetum quod gustasti, ne derelinquas me.
By the vinegar that you tasted, do not forsake me.
’Consummatum’ dixisti.
You said, ‘It is finished’.
Mater dolorosa
The third and final instalment is a wonderful tutti section, opening with the words 'Mater dolorosa' (the grieving mother). In the Catholic tradition, Mary is referred to as Our Lady of Solitude on Holy Saturday, a title that resonates this Holy Week more than ever.
Mater dolorosa plena lacrimosa,
The grieving mother full of tears,
videns ruinosa filium in cruce,
seeing her son on the murderous cross,
cum voce raucosa dixit speciosa,
with a hoarse voice he said to her the memorable words,
’Mulier clamorosa, filium tuum ecce.’
’O sorrowing woman, behold your son.’
Whilst you’re here…
Our wonderful professional singers have been hit very hard by the COVID-19 crisis. We are doing our best to support them in this difficult time but have very limited reserves with which to do so. If you feel able, please do consider making a donation to the choir.
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