On the Eve of Magna Carta mj346
(i) For the King – Quasimodo / Christus Vincit / Alleluia mj139
Magna Carta was presented to King John on the Monday or possibly Tuesday after Trinity Sunday, 1215. Archbishop Langton (who had been with the King at Windsor for the Trinity morning Mass) left to be with the Barons who had assembled in Staines. According to a fairly contemporary French chronicle, at the services held on the eve of the signing-with-a-seal, each party sang different Antiphons whose texts drew attention to the rights of their own group.
The King’s choir was fairly slick and reasonably disciplined: they probably chose verses from Psalm 88 to be sung by a cantor between a three-voice motet and a two-voice duet using words from Psalm 20. Both pieces sung on the eve of Magna Carta would have been in the form of a motet followed by two plainsong Psalm verses sung by a cantor, a duet based on a different Psalm, more plainsong Psalm verses and a repetition of the motet.
The motet which opens and closes the work performed for the King was probably based on Christus regnat (sung in the lowest voices) while the other singers alternated Quasimodo with Alleluia.
The cantor’s Psalm text then follows:
Inveni David servum meum: oleo sancto meo unxi eum.
Manus enim mea auxiliabitur ei: et brachium meum confortabit eum.
I have found my servant David andhave anointed him with holy oil.
For my hand will assist him, and my arm will fortify him.
This is followed by the inserted duet:
Domine in virtute tua laetabitur rex … voluntate labiorum eius non fraudasti eum.
In thy strength, O Lord, the king shall joy … Thou hast not withholden from him the will of his lips.
The Cantor continues with his Psalm:
Nihil proficiet inimicus in eo, et filius iniquitatis non apponet nocere ei.
Et concidam a facie ipsius inimicos eius: et odientes eum in fugam convertam.
The enemy will have no advantage over him, nor will the son of iniquity be positioned to harm him. And I will cut down his enemies before his face. And those who hate him, I will turn to flight.
Then the opening motet is repeated.
On the Eve of Magna Carta (ii) For the Barons – Haec Dies / Victimae mj68
Meanwhile, in the Barons’ camp, a less able but larger chorus, from the assembled singers of each baron, would have chosen part of Psalm 118/119 (verses 161-170), with an inserted duet using words from Psalm 145. As there were far more verses to be sung to plainsong than in the King’s piece, the whole order was repeated.
The opening motet hears Victimae paschalis laudes sung in the lowest part to the standard plainsong notes, but now given a new rhythm. Against this part, other voices sing Haec dies quam fecit Dominus set to newly-composed music.
The Cantor’s plainsong sections:
Principes persecuti sunt me gratis: et a verbis tuis formidavit cor meum.
Lætabor ego super eloquia tua: sicut qui invenit spolia multa.
The leaders have persecuted me without cause. And my heart has been awed by your words. I will rejoice over your eloquence, like one who has found many spoils.
Iniquitatem odio habui, et abominatus sum: legem autem tuam dilexi.
Septies in die laudem dixi tibi, super iudicia iustitiæ tuæ.
I have held hatred for iniquity, and I have abhorred it. Yet I have loved your law. Seven times a day, I uttered praise to you about the judgments of your justice.
Pax multa diligentibus legem tuam: et non est illis scandalum.
Expectabam salutare tuum Domine: et mandata tua dilexi.
Custodivit anima mea testimonia tua: et dilexit ea vehementer.
Servavi mandata tua, et testimonia tua: quia omnes viæ meæ in conspectu tuo.
Those who love your law have great peace, and there is no scandal for them. I have waited for your salvation, O Lord. And I have loved your commandments. My soul has kept to your testimonies and has loved them exceedingly. I have served your commandments and your testimonies. For all my ways are before your sight.
Appropinquet deprecatio mea in conspectu tuo Domine: iuxta eloquium tuum da mihi intellectum.
Intret postulatio mea in conspectu tuo: secundum eloquium tuum eripe me.
O Lord, let my supplication draw near in your sight. Grant understanding to me according to your eloquence. Let my petition enter before you. Rescue me according to your word.
The text for the twice-inserted duet was:
Nolite confidere in principibus, in filiis hominum, in quibus non est salus.
I will sing praises unto my God. O put not your trust in princes, nor in any child of man: for there is no help in them.