Pope Annuls Magna Carta mj343
The Southern-French troubadour poet-musician Gaucelm Faidit (1170-1202) composed a Planh on the death of the English Richard the Lionheart in 1199. By the time of Magna Carta (1215), the Planh had been heard at both the English and French courts. In his arrangement, Malcolm Hill took Faidit’s rhythm, melody and unusual metrical scheme and fitted them around a text based on Pope Innocent III’s letters to England of 1213 and 1215. Thirteenth century compositional methods were applied throughout the resulting motet, although some quasi-modal techniques of the early 20th century are also referenced.
Faidit’s melody opens the work. This sets the scene: King John (in 1213) had made over his kingdom to be a vassal state of the Apostolic See. Throughout the motet, soloists (singing only in English) act either as narrators or translators of the Latin (sung by the chorus) of the Pope’s letter.
After King John had accepted Magna Carta, he sent a letter to the Pope which resulted in a Papal open letter of 24th August 2015 declaring Magna Carta “null and void of all validity for ever.” This letter is announced quietly by a soprano duet, then the chorus starts to proclaim its contents. The main body of the motet, however, involves a dramatic soprano soloist singing against the 6-part chorus, all the text coming from this open letter.