The subject of this piece is based on Psalm 19, a text that praises God and how his glory spreads across all ends of the earth and to all nations. It is written following the style of the Notre Dame school of polyphony (1100 - 1250 AD) as the composer has made an attempt to create a work following that tradition.
Original Latin text of Psalm 19:
Caeli enarrant gloriam Dei, et opera manuum eius adnuntiat firmamentum. Dies diei eructat verbum et nox nocti indicat scientiam. Non sunt loquellae neque sermones quorum non audiantur voces eorum. In omnem terram exivit sonus eorum et in fines orbis, terrae verba eorum.
English Translation of Psalm 19:
The heavens shew forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of his hands. Day to day uttereth speech, and night to night sheweth knowledge. There are no speeches nor languages where their voices are not heard. Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Performance Notes:
-This work is written for either SSAA or TTBB choirs. Higher voices take the Duplum and Quadruplum parts whereas the lower voices take the Tenor and Triplum parts.
-All the vowels in the longer melismatic treatment of the text should be held as long as possible before singing the next syllable.
-Singers on the Tenor part should employ stagger breathing throughout the longer sections of held drones. An Organ or Electronic Keyboard can double this part to help support if absolutely needed.
