Monteverdi’s Vespers
of 1610 includes a piece entitled “Duo Seraphim” that melds texts from
Isaiah and 1 John in an echo motet of
great beauty. We heard one of these texts
this past Sunday, when Isaiah starts in awe at hearing the seraphim proclaim, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory! Monteverdi brilliantly joins this acclamation
to a celebration of the Trinity; at that point, a third voice joins the first
two, all three singing in unison, These
three are one! Listen for the sounds that imitate the wings and flames of the seraphim.
The text in Latin reads:
Duo Seraphim clamabant alter ad
alterum: Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus,
Dominus Deus Sabaoth: Plena est omnis
terra gloria eius. Tres sunt qui testimonium
dant in coelo: Pater, Verbum, et Spiritus
Sanctus: Et hic tres unum sunt.
In English: Two angels called to one another: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, God of Hosts! The
earth is full of your glory. There are
three who give testimony in heaven:
Father, Word, and Holy Spirit, and these three are one!
This post has its origins in Fr. Pat's Scripture class.
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