Description:

Tenor, electric guitar, 2 violas, cello, bass
Duration c. 4′
First performance John Potter, Gavin Bryars ensemble
St Georges Brandon Hill, Bristol May 2 2008

Date:

May 1, 2008

Gavin’s Notes:

Text of Lauda 35 L’alto prince archangelo

L’alto prençe archangelo lucente,                The mighty prince, the gleaming archangel,

sancto Michel, laudi ciascun scente.            Saint Michael, everyone sings your praises.

 

Sovente lo laudiamo, et ubidença               We praise him continually, and each of us

ciascun li facia cum gram reverença,           obeys his word with great veneration,

k’ell’è ministro de l’omnipotença                 for he is the minister of the Almighty

per l’anima receper da la gente.                 and through his spirit receives the people.

 

L’alto prençe archangelo lucente,                The mighty prince, the gleaming archangel,

sancto Michel, laudi ciascun scente.            Saint Michael, everyone sings your praises.

 

La gente cristiana li è commisa                   We Christian people were delegated by him

per guardar et per condur pace ‘nfra essa;   to guard and to bring peace among ourselves;

ma la superbia in fra noi si’è messa             but pride was also placed among us,

ke’l suo contrario è venuto a niente.            which is peace’s opposite – and comes to nothing.

 

L’alto prençe archangelo lucente,                The mighty prince, the gleaming archangel,

sancto Michel, laudi ciascun scente.            Saint Michael, everyone sings your praises.

 

Gaudente star po’ cum gram scigurança;     I may remain in gladness with great certainty

chi’n questo mondo à pace et consolança;   that in this world there is peace and consolation;

sancto Michel l’aita a la bilança.                  Saint Michael is our help and our balance.

Folle chi’m soperbia resta fervente.             Foolish is he who spends his fervour on pride.

 

L’alto prençe archangelo lucente,                The mighty prince, the gleaming archangel,

sancto Michel, laudi ciascun scente.            Saint Michael, everyone sings your praises.

 

Selene Mills

16 April 2008

Gavin Bryars