Marian Antiphons (2012)
for
mixed choir, piano and miscellaneous instruments
by
Robert Morris
Program Notes
Marian Antiphons, composed in the summer of 2011, is a cantata for chorus and instruments setting five Latin texts—the “Magnificat” and the “four Marian Antiphons.” These texts have been set by many composers, from Guillaume Dufay to Arvo Pärt. All of the texts sing praise to and ask for intercession from Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. I associate Mary with the Goddess of Hinduism and (female) Bodhisattvas of Buddhism, and to mothers and muses everywhere—the miraculous fertility of imagination and compassion.
The entire piece lasts over an hour, but parts of it can be abstracted for use in concert and chapel. The various movements often allude to older and/or non-Western music, as well as some modern choral music, especially by Webern.
The piece is based on all twenty-nine, four-note harmonies available in the modern 12-equal-steps-per-octave system. The first and last movements present all of these harmonies in a concise, overlapped pattern; the rest of the movements each focus on one (or a group) of these harmonies. In this way, each movement has its own harmonic color, ranging from highly chromatic to diatonic, and all shades in between. Rhythmically, the piece uses temporal procedures abstracted and generalized from Medieval, Arabic, and Indian music, in addition to recent contemporary music.
Marian Antiphons may be performed as a whole or in parts. Since the composition sets five different Latin texts, movements that set lines from one or more of those texts could be performed without the other movements. (See the pages of texts below.) Movements from the six instrumental Interludia can also be played to form a separate, non-vocal suite.
The chorus should not probably exceed about 50 people, but must have at least three singers on a part. Singers of Baroque choral music are ideal. Some of the movements for chorus might be sung by the soloists. The soloists should have lighter, flexible vocal attributes so that quick ornamentation will be supple, not labored. However, the bass solo in number 8 (“Fecit potentiam”) may have substantial gravity or heft.
Glissandi are continuous, not portamenti.
If necessary, the instruments accompanying the chorus can be substituted by one or more electronic keyboards (played by a second pianist or organist) so as to simulate the percussion, organ, and guitar parts. The handbells, gong, and woodblocks can be performed by members of the chorus if necessary or desired. A portative organ (or keyboard) will suffice if an organ is not available.
|
1. |
Regina
caeli, laetare, alleluia: Quia
quem meruisti portare, alleluia, Resurrexit,
sicut dixit, alleluia, Ora
pro nobis Deum, alleluia. (RC) |
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. |
|
2. |
Magnificat
anima mea Dominum, (M1) |
My
soul doth magnify the Lord. |
|
3. |
Interludium I |
|
|
4. |
et
exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo, (M2) |
And
my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour |
|
5. |
quia
respexit humilitatem ancillae suae. Ecce
enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes,
(M3) |
Because
he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for
behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. |
|
6. |
quia
fecit mihi magna, qui
potens est, et
sanctum nomen eius (M4) |
Because
he that is mighty, hath
done great things to me; and
holy is his name. |
|
7. |
et
misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus
eum. (M5) |
And
his mercy is from generation unto generations, to
them that fear him |
|
8. |
Fecit
potentiam in brachio suo, dispersit
superbos mente cordis sui (M6) |
He
hath shewed might in his arm: he
hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. |
|
9. |
Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli porta manes, et stella maris, (ARM1) |
Loving mother of the Redeemer, that passage to heaven, gate of the morning, and star of the sea, |
|
10. |
succurre cadenti surgere qui curat, populo: (ARM2) |
help your fallen people as they try to rise up again, |
|
11. |
tu quae genuisti natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem: (ARM3) |
you who bore to the wonderment of nature, your holy Creator, |
|
12. |
Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere. (ARM4) |
Virgin before and after, who received from Gabriel that joyful greeting, have mercy on us sinners |
|
13. |
Interludium II |
|
|
14. |
Salve,
Regina, Mater misericordiae, vita,
dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. (SR1) |
Hail,
holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our
life, our sweetness and our hope. |
|
15. |
ad
te clamamus exsules filii Hevae, (SR2) |
To
thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; |
|
16. |
ad
te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in
hac lacrimarum valle. (SR3) |
to
thee do we send up our sighs, mourning
and weeping in this valley of tears. |
|
17. |
Interludium III |
|
|
18. |
Eia,
ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes
oculos ad nos converte et
Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, (SR4) |
Turn
then, most gracious advocate, thine
eyes of mercy toward us (converted); show
unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. |
|
19. |
nobis
post hoc exsilium ostende O
clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria. (SR5) |
and
after this our exile, O
clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. |
|
20. |
Interludium IV |
|
|
21. |
deposuit
potentes de sede et
exaltavit humiles; (M7) |
He
hath put down the mighty from their seat, and
hath exalted the humble. |
|
22. |
esurientes
implevit bonis et
divites dimisit inanes. (M8) |
He
hath filled the hungry with good things; and
the rich he hath sent empty away. |
|
23. |
Suscepit
Israel puerum suum, recordatus
misericordiae, (M9) |
He
hath received Israel his servant, being
mindful of his mercy: |
|
24. |
sicut
locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham
et semini eius in saecula. (M10) |
As
he spoke to our fathers, to
Abraham and to his seed for ever. |
|
25. |
Interludium V |
|
|
26. |
Ave,
Regina Caelorum, Ave,
Domina Angelorum: Salve,
radix, salve, porta Ex
qua mundo lux est orta: Gaude, Virgo gloriosa, Super
omnes speciosa, Vale,
o valde decora, Et
pro nobis Christum exora. (ARC) |
Hail,
O Queen of Heaven enthroned. Hail,
by angels mistress owned. Root
of Jesse, Gate of Morn Whence
the world's true light was born: Glorious
Virgin, Joy to thee, Loveliest
whom in heaven they see; Fairest
thou, where all are fair, Plead
with Christ our souls to spare. |
|
27. |
Interludium VI |
|
|
28. |
Gloria
Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto, Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in
saecula saeculorum. Amen. (M11) Alleluia |
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning, both now and always,
and to the ages of ages. Amen |
Texts taken from the Magnificat (M); Regina Caeli (RC); Alma Redemptoris Mater (ARM); Salve, Regina (SR); and Ave, Regina Caelorum (ARC)