Description:
SATB, viola, electric guitar, cello, double bass
Duration c. 6′
First performance “The 24”, directed by John Potter, Gavin Bryars Ensemble
York University, February 11 2009
Date:
Gavin’s Notes:
Text of Lauda 38 “Ben è crudele”
Ben è crudele e spietoso
ki non si move a gran dolore
de la pena del salvatore
che di noi fo si amoroso.
Amoroso veramente
fo di noi cum gram pietança,
poi ke d’alt’onnipotente
discese ad nostra semblança.
Or non fo grande disiança
per noi prender humanitate
et darsi in altrui podestade
quei k’e sovr’ogne poderoso?
Ben è crudele e spietoso
ki non si move a gran dolore
de la pena del Salvatore
che di noi fo si amoroso.
Doloroso flagellando
incoronâro di spina,
vis’ e corpo sanguinando
di voi fêr gran disciplina;
cum gram tempesta, cum gram ruina
vi fecer la croce portare,
et menarv’ad iustitiare
ad guisa de ladron otioso.
Ben è crudele e spietoso
ki non si move a gran dolore
de la pena del Salvatore
che di noi fo si amoroso.
Cruel and pitiless is he
who is not moved to great sorrow
by the suffering of the Saviour
who loved us so greatly.
Truly, he loved us so much,
with such great pity,
that he came down from his high throne of power
to take on human form.
Now was that not a great desire,
that he took on humanity for our sake,
that he who had power over all
gave himself into the power of others?
Cruel and pitiless is he
who is not moved to great sorrow
by the suffering of the Saviour
who loved us so greatly.
They whipped the man of sorrows,
they crowned him with thorns;
his body gushing with blood
took hard punishment for your sake.
With great torment, with great damage
they made him carry his cross
and let him to led him to judgment
like a lazy beggar.
Cruel and pitiless is he
who is not moved to great sorrow
by the suffering of the Saviour
who loved us so greatly.