Three Latin Motets (Stanford)

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"Three Motets" redirects here. For 1839 collection by Felix Mendelssohn, see Drei Motetten, Op. 39 (Mendelssohn).

Three Latin Motets
by Charles Villiers Stanford
The composer c. 1894
Opus38
Text
DedicationAlan Gray and Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge
Published1905 (1905)
VocalSATB choir

Three Latin Motets, Op. 38, is a collection of three sacred motets based on Latin texts for mixed unaccompanied choir by Charles Villiers Stanford, comprising Justorum animae, Coelos ascendit hodie and Beati quorum via. The texts come from different sources, and the scoring is for four to eight parts. They were published by Boosey & Co in 1905. The works, some of Stanford's few settings of church music in Latin, have remained in the choral repertoire internationally and are performed in liturgies and concert.

History

Stanford may have composed the three motets at the end of the 19th century, possibly when he was a teacher at the

Anglican Church in English.[2]

Stanford did not set introits but rather Latin texts of different origin. His autographs are lost.[2] The pieces were published as motets in 1905 by Boosey & Co, which made them suitable for both Catholic and Anglican usage.[2] Three Latin Motets[4] comprised Justorum animae, Coelos ascendit hodie and Beati quorum via.[2] The motets became a staple of Anglican church music, frequently performed and recorded, both as a set and individually.[2]

Motet descriptions

The three a cappella motets are all based on Latin texts, but with different background, scoring and character:

  1. Justorum animae (The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God)[5] for four-part choir SATB[2]
  2. Coelos ascendit hodie (Today, Jesus Christ has ascended into the heavens)[5] for two four-part choirs[2]
  3. Beati quorum via (Blessed are those that are undefiled)[5] for six-part choir SSATBB[2]

Justorum animae

In Justorum animae, Stanford set verses from the beginning of chapter 3 of the

theme.[2]

Coelos ascendit hodie

In Coelos ascendit hodie, Stanford set an Ascension hymn which is well known in German as "Gen Himmel aufgefahren ist" from the 14th century.[2] Stanford composed the text for a two mixed unaccompanied four-part choirs, both SATB.[2] The piece is in A major and common time, marked Allegro.[6] Stanford wrote an antiphonal setting, with choir II interrupting choir I by inserted Alleluja calls to the first line, with switched positions for the second line. The piece has a strong rhythmic element, and closes with both choirs united on "Amen".[2]

Beati quorum via

Stanford set a paraphrase of the first verse of Psalm 119 in Latin, "Beati quorum via integra est, qui ambulant in lege Domini" (Happy are they that are upright in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD).[7] He composed the text for a mixed unaccompanied six-part choir, SSATBB.[6] The piece is in A-flat major and 3/4 time, marked Con moto tranqillo ma no troppo lento (In calm movement but not too slow).[6] The three upper voices begin, imitated by the three lower voices. For the second part of the text, the lower voices begin with different material.[6] Dibble noted that the piece is reminiscent of the sonata form, with these two themes, which are then combined.[3] He called the motet a "pastoral prayer", and it was also described as "meditative in character".[8] R. J. Stove wrote in his review of Paul Rodmell's Stanford biography: "his finest unaccompanied motets, such as Beati quorum via, attain neo-Brucknerian sublimity", comparing Stanford's work to that of Hubert Parry and Anton Bruckner.[1]

Recordings

The three motets were recorded in 2012 by the Winchester Cathedral Choir, conducted by David Hill, in a collection of Stanford's sacred choral music. They appeared, sung by the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, conducted by Stephen Layton, on a 2017 collection of choral music by Stanford.[3]

Legacy

Of Stanford's works, his church music, and particularly the Three Latin Motets, continues to be frequently performed and recorded, while his music in other genres, such as opera and orchestral music, is rarely performed.[2] The Stanford Society presents a recording of Beati by Voces8 on its web page.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b Stove, R. J. (2003). "Stanford education". The New Criterion. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Mohn, Barbara (2018). "Charles Villiers Stanford / Three Motets op. 38 / for unaccompanied chorus" (PDF). Carus-Verlag. pp. 1, 3–4. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Dibble, Jeremy. "Three Motets, Op 38". Hyperion Records. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  4. ISBN 978-0-19-816383-1
    . Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  5. ^ a b c France, John (January 2016). "Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) / Winchester College/Malcolm Archer / Jamal Sutton (organ)". musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Charles Villiers Stanford / Beati quorum via / Three Motets op. 38,3". Carus-Verlag. 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Psalms Chapter 119". mechon-mamre.org. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  8. ^ Bawden, John. "Three Motets – Charles Stanford (1852–1924)". choirs.org. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  9. ^ "About Charles Villiers Stanford". The Stanford Society. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2020.

External links
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