Verdi – the great operatic composer and that of the huge Requiem – also wrote three smaller pieces for unaccompanied choir including this poetic version of the Lord’s Prayer set by the 14th century poet Antonio Beccari.
It is almost madrigalian in its word painting and response of mood to text. It ranges from meditative, devotional prayerfulness to full blooded sections, particular for ‘deliver me from hell’.
O Padre nostro che nei cieli stai,
O, our Father who in heaven,
Santificato sia sempre il tuo nome.
hallowed be your name always.
E laude e grazia di ciò che ci fai.
And praise and grace to you for what you do for us
E venga il regno tuo, siccome pone questa orazion:
And let your kingdom come, as this prayer asks:
tua volontà si faccia, siccome in cielo, in terra in unione.
your will be done, as in heaven, on earth in union.
Padre, dà oggi a noi pane,
Father, give us bread today,
e ti piaccia che ne perdoni li peccati nostri;
and may it please you that you forgive our sins;
Né cosa noi facciam che ti dispiaccia.
Nor what we do that displeases you.
E che noi perdoniam, tu ti dimostri
And let us forgive , as you show yourself
esempio a noi per la tua gran virtute;
as an example to us for your great virtue;
Acciò dal rio nemico ognun si schiostri.
So that everyone stands out from the enemy’s river.
Divino Padre, pien d’ogni salute,
Divine Father, full of all goodness,
Ancor ci guarda dalla tentazione Dell’infernal nemico e sue ferrute,
Guard us from the temptation of the infernal enemy and his attacks
si che a te facciamo orazione, che meritiam tua grazia,
so that we pray to you, that we deserve your grace,
e il regno vostro a posseder vegniam con divozione.
and we come to possess your kingdom with devotion.
Preghiamti re di gloria e signor nostro,
Let us pray to you, king of glory and our lord,
Che tu ci guardi da dolore:
that you guard us from pain:
e fitto la mente abbiamo in te, col volto prostro. Amen.
and we have our mind fixed on you prayerfully. Amen.
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