JESU DULCIS MEMORIA by Ivo Antognini – Alliance Music Pub. Inc.

“Jesu Dulcis Memoria“, by award-winning Swiss composer Ivo Antognini has just been published by Alliance Music Publications Inc.

 

SSATTB a cappella.

Language: Latin

Approx duration: 4 min.

 

 

Listen to the piece: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8RO4ewUlv8

 

Buy at Alliance Music Pub. Inc: http://www.alliancemusic.com/product.cfm?iProductID=1045

 

More informations about the composer: http://www.ivoantognini.com/home.html

 

 

The text of Jesus dulcis memoria is attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1152). These are words that are almost a thousand years old! 

Its sweetness, melodic sound and amazing poetry have inspired the composer to write a setting that is completely based on the original Gregorian chant.  

Jesu dulcis memoria contains true citations from the ancient manuscript and metamorphoses of the original melody as well.

Antognini attempted to combine and fuse ancient and modern sound in an ecstasy of peace, beauty and mysticism.

 

Below is the English poetic translation of the Latin text

 

Jesus, the very thought of Thee

With sweetness fills the breast!

Yet sweeter far Thy face to see

And in Thy Presence rest.

 

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,

Nor can the memory find,

A sweeter sound than Jesus’ Name,

The Saviour of mankind.

 

O hope of every contrite heart!

O joy of all the meek!

To those who fall, how kind Thou art!

How good to those who seek!

 

But what to those who find? Ah! this

Nor tongue nor pen can show  

The love of Jesus, what it is,

None but His loved ones know.

 

Jesus! our only hope be Thou,

As Thou our prize shalt be;

In Thee be all our glory now,

And through eternity. Amen

 

The piece has already been performed by splendid choirs like: Collegium Vocale Hamar (Norway), Kölner Kantorei (Germany),

De Angelis Vocal Ensemble (USA), Vancouver Chamber Choir (Canada).