You may remember we had Gesualdo’s setting of O vos omnes which came from the book of Lamentations.
It was a popular text during the Renaissance – today we have the setting by Lassus.
Who was Lassus? Fortunately Stephen Rice gives us an excellent biography here:
https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/c.asp?c=C347
You will see at the opening how he uses a descending three note figure, sometimes ascending, sometimes descending, in imitation. There is also a combination throughout of chordal and contrapuntal writing.
The translation is:
Incipit Lamentatio Jeremiae prophetae.
Here beginneth the Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah.
ALEPH (first letter / chapter)
Quomodo sedet sola civitas plena populo!
How lonely sits the city that was full of people!
Facta est quasi vidua domina gentium;
How like a widow has she become, she that was great among the nations!
princeps provinciarum facta est sub tributo.
She that was a princess among the cities has become a vassal.
BETH. (second letter / chapter)
Plorans ploravit in nocte, et lacrimæ ejus in maxillis ejus:
She weeps bitterly in the night, tears on her cheeks;
non est qui consoletur eam, ex omnibus caris ejus;
among all her lovers she has none to comfort her;
omnes amici ejus spreverunt eam, et facti sunt ei inimici.
all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they have become her enemies.
GHIMEL. (third letter / chapter)
Migravit Judas propter afflictionem, et multitudinem servitutis;
Judah has gone into exile because of affliction and hard servitude;
habitavit inter gentes, nec invenit requiem:
she dwells now among the nations, but finds no resting place;
omnes persecutores ejus apprehenderunt eam inter angustias.
her pursuers have all overtaken her in the midst of her distress.
(Refrain)
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return to the Lord thy God.
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