Johannes Ciconia texts
O felix templum
Written for Stefano Carrara, bishop of Padua from 1402-1405, for the consecration of the Altar in Padua Cathedral.
O felix templum jubila et chors tua canonici,
nunc plaudat corde supplici.
Tu clere, viso rutila.
Qui presul divi muneris de summo missus
cardine a justo nato Dardane
est pastor sacri oneris.
Tu genitoris Stephane, o plaustriger illustrime,
virtutes splendidissime sunt tuis factis consone:
Fano novo et multis aris superis quas dedicasti ad
astra iter jam parasti tibi et cunctis tui laris.
Precor, patre o digna proles, justa, mitis et
modesta, viciorum ad infesta, virtutibusque
redolens, dignare me Ciconiam (tanti licet
indignus) tui habere in cordis pignus, es
benignus quoniam. Amen.
(O happy church, rejoice, and let the choir of all your canons now give praise with supplicant hearts.
O you clergy, see it with glowing faces:
He who is a bishop given by heaven, offspring of just Dardan,
is pastor of this sacred trust.
You, o Stefano, bearer of your father’s illustrious name, your shining virtues are equaled by your actions.
With the new house [church] and the many altars you have dedicated to the saints above,
you have prepared the way to heaven for you and for all your household.
I pray, worthy child of your father, just, humble and modest, enemy of vice, and scented with virtues,
deem me, Ciconia, worthy (although I am unworthy) to be placed in your heart as a pledge,
for you are benevolent. Amen.)
Gloria
Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te,
gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam,
Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.
Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe,
Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris,
qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis;
qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram.
Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.
Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus,
Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.
(Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.
We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You,
we give thanks to You for Your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God the Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
who taketh away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;
You who take away the sins of the world, hear our prayers.
Who sits at the right hand of the Father, have mercy upon us.
For You are the only Holy One, the only Lord, the only Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father, Amen.)
Caçando un giorno
[Although we are performing this as an instrumental piece, it is a madrigal with text - a hunting song that is really about love.]
Caçando un giorno vidi una cervetta
Candida, tutta piena di costume,
Che’l cor me aperse
E par che me consume.
E lei seguendo per farne vendetta,
Tosto me sparve
Si ch’io non la vidi,
Cridando: segnor mio, perche me sfidi?
Alor si volse a la mia voce indegna,
Ivi se strinçe et ivi fe’ soa insegna.
(While hunting one day I saw a little doe
Pure, of complete noble finery,
Such that she opened my heart
And seemed to consume me.
And her next move was for revenge,
Immediately disappearing from me
So that I could not see her,
Shouting: “My lord, why do you challenge me?”
Then she turned to my unworthy voice;
There she held fast, and there she made her insignia.)
