The baroque composer Claudio Monteverdi devoted much of his
life to writing sacred music. This motet
entited Venite, venite sitientes ad aquas,
is based on a blending of our text from Isaiah 55 this past Sunday -- All you who thirst, come to the waters… -- with Proverbs 9:5 and Song of Songs 1:1,
Venite, venite
sitientes ad aquas Domini,
properate emite sine
argento mel et lac.
Venite, bibite vinum
quod misuit
vobis ineffabilem
sapientiam.
Comedite, bibite amici
divinum mel et lac.
Quia meliora sunt
ubera
Dei vino consolationis
mundi.
Venite, venite.
(One translation reads: O come,
O come to the waters, all you who thirst for the Lord. Make haste to get this milk and honey that no
silver can buy. Come, let us drink
the wine which imparts to you ineffable wisdom.
Eat, drink, friend, of this divine honey and milk. Because God’s love is better than wine which
consoles the world.)
The two female voices represent God on heaven and God on earth; they are in the higher range because that is the register of heavenly voices. In its entirety, the motet becomes an invitation to Eucharist, the Lord's Supper; its tight harmonies can be read as an expression of God's compassion trying to touch our hearts, to call us into relationship. And it's just beautiful.
The two female voices represent God on heaven and God on earth; they are in the higher range because that is the register of heavenly voices. In its entirety, the motet becomes an invitation to Eucharist, the Lord's Supper; its tight harmonies can be read as an expression of God's compassion trying to touch our hearts, to call us into relationship. And it's just beautiful.
This post is based on Fr. Pat's Thursday Scripture class.
More accurately, it would be "Come, ye that thirst, to the waters of the Lord;" 'Domini' is possessive, so it goes with the waters. It is a fabulous motet indeed -- a joyful invitation to the heavenly banquet! :)
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