Tallis’ “Lamentations I & II”: King’s College Cambridge 1966 (David Willcocks) HD

From a 1977 re-release of an LP originally issued in 1966. Thomas Tallis wrote his settings of verses 1-2 and 3-5 of Lamentations (which form the first and second Lessons of Tenebrae on Maundy Thursday) between 1560 and 1569. Like many other composers, he included the announcements before each section, a concluding refrain after each, and the Hebrew letters that headed each verse in the Vulgate. I Incipit Lamentatio Ieremiae Prophetae. ALEPH. Quomodo sedet sola civitas plena populo! Facta est quasi vidua domina gentium; princeps provinciarum facta est sub tributo. BETH. Plorans ploravit in nocte, et lacrimæ ejus in maxillis ejus: non est qui consoletur eam, ex omnibus caris ejus; omnes amici ejus spreverunt eam, et facti sunt ei inimici. Ierusalem, Ierusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum. II De Lamentatione Ieremiae Prophetae. GIMEL. Migravit Judas propter afflictionem, et multitudinem servitutis; habitavit inter gentes, nec invenit requiem. DALETH. Omnes persecutores ejus apprehenderunt eam inter angustias. Lugent eo quod non sint qui veniant ad solemnitatem: omnes portæ ejus destructæ, sacerdotes ejus gementes; virgines ejus squalidæ, et ipsa oppressa amaritudine. HETH. Facti sunt hostes ejus in capite; inimici ejus locupletati sunt: quia Dominus locutus est super eam propter multitudinem iniquitatum ejus. Parvuli ejus ducti sunt captivi ante faciem tribulantis. Ierusalem, Ierusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum. Translation: I Here begins the Lamentation of Jeremiah the Prophet. ALEPH. How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! BETH. She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God. II From the Lamentation of the Prophet Jeremiah. GIMEL. Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest. DALETH. All her persecutors overtook her between the straits. She mourns, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. HETH. Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions. Her children are led away captive before the enemy. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God. Visit the Archive’s website at http://arechmus.org