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TENEBRAE RESPONSORIES

a collection of 18 sacred pieces for chorus "a cappella" (after Tomás Luis de Victoria) | 45'ca (2000) download | purchase
* this collection is a part of the "Officium Hebdomadæ Sanctæ" (TOMUS VI of the Opera Omnia of the Sacred Choral Works)
* Audio tracks generated with Cantamus software** learning practice-tracks available on request.

PROGRAM NOTE


Tenebræ (Latin for darkness or shadows, pronounced ten-eh-bray) is the name of the church service held after nightfall during the last three days of Holy Week, during which the candles in the church are extinguished one by one "to signify the setting of the Sun of Justice" in the words of Benedict XIV. 
The service is treated as a sort of funeral service or dirge, commemorating the death of Jesus. Following the opening, the service is divided into three sections, called "Nocturns". The music turns its attention to subject matter covering torment, suffering, blood and death.
Initially, on the days of Holy Week, the responsories were sung early in the morning, during Matins. Later, these services were held during the afternoon and almost in the dark, with the only light in the church from fifteen candles (representing the eleven apostles, the three Marys and Christ), located on a triangular platform, plus the six candles in the altar. At the conclusion of the singing of each psalm, a candle was extinguished, so that after the fourteenth psalm only the tallest candle (representing Christ) continued to burn.
During the final recitations of the Canticle of Zechariah, the six candles on the altar were also extinguished one by one until the only candle that remained lit was hidden behind the altar, so that the church was left in darkness, in darkness. The rite symbolizes both the darkness that covered the earth when Christ was crucified and his burial. After the last prayer the faithful made noise to imitate the state of agitation of nature due to the death of Jesus. Once the noise stopped, the candle that remained lit was taken out from behind the altar, as a sign of resurrection, then placed on the stand and finally extinguished, thus ending the rite.
FERIA V in coena Domini ad Matutinum(Responsories for Maundy Thursday)
1st Nocturn(3 lessons from Jeremiah)I-1. In monte OlivetiI-2. Tristis est anima meaI-3. Ecce vidimus
2nd Nocturn(3 lessons from St Augustin)I-4. Amicus meus osculiI-5. Judas, mercator pessimusI-6. Unus ex discipulis meis
3rd Nocturn(3 lessons from Corinthians 11)I-7. Eram quasi agnusI-8. Una horaI-9. Seniores populi

FERIA VI in parasceve ad Matutinum(Responsories for Good Friday)
1st Nocturn(3 lessons from Jeremiah)II-1. Omnes amici meiII-2. Velum templiII-3. Vinea mea electa
2nd Nocturn(3 lessons from St Augustin)II-4. Tamquam latronemII-5. Tenebræ factæ suntII-6. Animam meam dilectam
3rd Nocturn(3 lessons from Hebrews 4)II-7. Tradiderunt meII-8. Jesum tradidit impiusII-9. Caligaverunt oculi mei

SABBATO SANCTO ad Matutinum(Responsories for Holy Saturday)
1st Nocturn(3 lessons from Jeremiah)III-1. Sicut ovisIII-2. Jerusalem, surgeIII-3. Plange quasi virgo
2nd Nocturn(3 lessons from St Augustin)III-4. Recessit pastor nosterIII-5. O vos omnesIII-6. Ecce quomodo moritur justus
3rd Nocturn(3 lessons from Hebrews 9)III-7. Astiterunt reges terraeIII-8. Æstimatus sumIII-9. Sepulto Domino


Albert CARBONELL - TENEBRAE RESPONSORIES (for mixed choir).pdf