Re: Universal Translation Language

On Sat, 29 May 1999, Nik Taylor wrote:

> What is the Stabat Mater?
It's the hymn for _Festum Septem Dolorum B. Mariae Virginis_ ("the
feast of the seven sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary", I think),
celebrated on the Saturday after Passion Sunday (that's the fifth
Sunday in Lent, which makes it a fortnight and a day before Easter).


The spelling is from _Liber Usualis_; the translation is very rough.


  Stabat mater dolorosa           The sorrowful mother stood next to
  Juxta crucem lacrimosa          the cross, full of tears, while her
  Dum pendebat Filius.            Son hung (there).

  Cujus animam gementem           And a sword had pierced her
  Contristatam et dolentem        sighing, saddened, suffering soul.
  Pertransivit gladius.

  O quam tristis et afflicta      O, how sad and stricken was that
  Fuit illa benedicta             blessed mother of the One-Born!
  Mater Unigeniti!

  Quae moerebat et dolebat        And she lamented and wailed,
  Pia Mater, dum videbat          the pious mother, when she saw
  Nati poenas inclyti.            the torments of her famous son.

  Quis est homo qui non fleret.   What man wouldn't weep
  Matrem Christi si videret       when he saw the Mother of Christ
  In tanto supplicio?             in so great a suffering?

  Quis non posset contristari,    Who would be unable to be sad with
  Christi Matrem contemplari      her, observing the Mother of Christ
  Dolentem cum Filio?             suffering with her son?

  Pro peccatis suae gentis,       For the sins of his (own) people
  Vidit Jesum in tormentis,       she sees Jesus in torment and
  Et flagellis subditum.          subject to whipping.

  Vidit suum dulcem natum         She sees her sweet son desolate
  Moriendo desolatum,             to the death, while he gives up
  Dum emisit spiritum.            the ghost.

  Eia Mater, fons amoris,         Ah, Mother, source of love,
  Me sentire vim doloris          make me feel the force of pain
  Fac, ut tecum lugeam.           so that I can grieve with you.

  Fac ut ardeat cor meum          Make my heart burn in loving
  In amando Christum Deum,        Christ God, so that I stay in
  Ut sibi complaceam.             his good grace.


It's a medieval text (I can't find most of my music history books,
can someone please enlighten us further?) that has been set to music
by a number of composers, the most famous of whom was Giovanni
Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736). He wrote a version for soprano,
contralto and string quartet, probably in 1736 as it was his last
work.

Hope this helps,

   Irina

            Varsinen an laynynay, saraz no arlet rastinay.
                     irina@rempt.xs4all.nl (myself)
       http://www.xs4all.nl/~bsarempt/irina/index.html (English)
    http://www.xs4all.nl/~bsarempt/irina/backpage.html (Nederlands)