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_Seven Last Words of Christ_

From:Thomas Wier <trwier@...>
Date:Saturday, March 26, 2005, 6:06
Greetings all.  For those who are celebrating the Christian
Holy Week this week, I thought I might suggest an amazing
recording of Haydn's _Seven Last Words of Christ_ by the
Vermeer String Quartet:

  <http://www.vermeerqt.com/>

They're based here at the U. of Chicago, where I've heard
them perform, but they have international reknown, having
received the highest praise from German, Australian, Polish,
and American newspapers and musical reviews, among others.
(Judge David Souter of the US Supreme Court said his hearing
them play Beethoven's Serioso was the best 25 minutes he
had spent at the Supreme Court.)

ObConlang:  why don't we translate Christ's last words into
our respective conlangs? Surely Tolkien would approve. Here's
the Latin version Haydn used and the English below:

1.  Pater, dimitte illis, quia nesciunt, quid faciunt.
    Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are
    doing.
2.  Hodie mecum eris in paradise.
    Today you will be with me in paradise.
3.  Mulier, ecce filius tuus.
    Woman, behold your son.
4.  Deus meus, Deus meus, utquid dereliquisti me?
    My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
5.  Sitio.
    I thirst.
6.  Consummatum est.
    It is finished.
7.  In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum.
    Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

For those who know some Hebrew, it might be worthwhile to
consult Psalm 22, which Christ was quoting for no. 4, and
the Greek originals in the New Testament for those so skilled.

 =========================================================================
Thomas Wier	       "I find it useful to meet my subjects personally,
Dept. of Linguistics    because our secret police don't get it right
University of Chicago   half the time." -- octogenarian Sheikh Zayed of
1010 E. 59th Street     Abu Dhabi, to a French reporter.
Chicago, IL 60637

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Wesley Parish <wes.parish@...>