Messe de Minuit

Texts and Translations

Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704) – Antiennes O de l'Avent

O salutaris Hostia,
O saving Victim,
Quae caeli pandis ostium:
who opens wide heaven's gates
Bella premunt hostilia,
the enemy threatens war,
Da robur, fer auxilium.
give us strength, send us aid.

O sapientia,
O Wisdom,
quae ex ore altissimi prodisti,
coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter suaviter disponensque omnia:
reaching from one end to the other, mightily and sweetly ordering all things:
Veni ad docendum nos viam prudentie.
Come and teach us the way of prudence.

O Adonaï, et Dux domus Israel,
O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,
qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
and gave him the law on Sinai:
veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.
Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel;
O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;
qui aperis, et nemo claudit;
you open and no one can shut;
claudis, et nemo aperit:
you shut and no one can open:
veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,
sedentem in tenebris et umbra mortis.
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Chant de Noël – Adeste Fidelis

See printed program insert.

Charpentier – In nativitatem Domini canticum H. 416 

FIRST SHEPHERD
Usquequo avertis faciem tuam Domine,
How long will you turn your face away, O
et oblivisceris tribulationis nostræ.
Lord, and forget our tribulations?

CHORUS OF SHEPHERDS
Memorare testamenti tui quod locutus es.
Remember your promise that you declared.
Veni, veni de excelso, et libera nos.
Come, come from on high and free us.

SECOND SHEPHERD
Consolare filia Sion,
Take comfort, o daughter of Zion.
quare mœrore consumeris.
Why are you consumed with grief?
Veniet ecce Rex tibi mansuetus,
Behold, the King will come to you all gentle,
veniet et non mentietur.
he will come and not be false.
In illa die stillabunt montes dulcedinem,
On that day the mountains will drip with sweetness,
et colles fluent lac et mel.
and the hills will flow with milk and honey.
Prope est ut veniat Dominus,
The time is nigh when the Lord will come
juxta est salus Domini,
The salvation of the Lord is at hand.
veniet et non tardabit.
He will come and not tarry.
Consolare filia Sion, et sustine Deum salvatorem tuum.
Take comfort, o daughter of Zion, and await God your saviour.

CHORUS OF SHEPHERDS
Utinam dirumperes cælos,
O break through the heavens,
redemptor noster, et descenderes.
our redeemer, and come down!
Rorate cæli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.
Drop dew from above, o heavens, and let the clouds rain down justice.
Aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.
Let the earth be opened and bring forth the Savior.

SHEPHERDS
Cæli aperti sunt, lux magna orta est, lux magna, lux terribilis.
The heavens have opened and a great light has arisen, a great and wondrous light!

ANGEL
Nolite timere pastores,
Be not afraid, shepherds,
ecce enim annuntio vobis gaudium magnum quod erit omni populo,
for behold I bring you tidings of great joy which will be for all people,
quia natus est vobis hodie Salvator Christus Dominus in civitate David.
for today was born for you in the city of David the Savior Christ the Lord.
Et hoc erit vobis signum:
And this will be a sign for you:
invenietis infantem pannis involutum, et positum in præsepio.
you will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. 
Surgite ergo, ite properate et adorate Dominum.
Arise therefore, go and make haste to adore the Lord.
Vos autem Angeli cantate mecum Domino canticum novum,
And you, o Angels, sing with me a new song to the Lord, quia mirabilia fecit super terram.
for he has done marvelous things on earth.

CHOIR OF ANGELS
Gloria in altissimis Deo.
Glory to God in the highest
et in terra pax hominibus bonæ voluntatis
and on earth peace to men of good will.

FIRST SHEPHERD
Transeamus usque Bethlehem,
Let us go over into Bethlehem,
et videamus hoc verbum quod factum est,
and let us see this thing that has come to pass,
quod Dominus ostendit nobis.
which the Lord has shown to us.

SHEPHERDS
O infans, o Deus, o Salvator noster! Sic eges, sic friges, sic amas, O infans, o Deus, o Salvator noster!
O Child, o God, o our Savior! You are so needy, you are so cold, yet you love so much, O Child, o God, o our Savior!

ENTRACTE / INTERMISSION

Andrew Balfour – Praeter rerum serium

Base on the Josquin des Prez motet, Praetor rerum seriem

Praetor rerum seriem
Beyond the normal chain of events
Virgo mater
The Virgin Mother
Parit Deum hominem
Gives birth to a man who is God
Transfer in mysteria
Into transcendent mysteries
Mater Ave
Hail, Mother!

Chant de Noël – Joy to the World

See printed program insert.

Charpentier – Messe de minuit H. 9

Kyrie eléison 
Lord, have mercy
Christe eléison
Christ, have mercy
Kyrie eléison
Lord, have mercy

Glória in excélsis Deo
Glory to God in the highest
et in terra pax homínibus bonae voluntátis.
and peace to His people on earth.
Laudámus te, benedícimus te,
We praise Thee, We bless Thee,
adorámus te, glorificámus te,
We worship Thee, We glorify Thee,
grátias ágimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam,
We give Thee thanks for Thy great glory,
Dómine Deus, Rex caeléstis,
O Lord God, heavenly King,
Deus Pater omnípotens.
God the Father almighty.
Dómine Fili unigénite, Jesu Christe,
Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son.
Dómine Deus, Agnus Dei, Fílius Patris,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father
qui tollis peccáta mundi, miserére nobis;
Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us
qui tollis peccáta mundi, súscipe deprecatiónem nostram.
Who takes away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
Qui sedes ad déxteram Patris, miserére nobis.
Who sits at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
Quóniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dóminus, tu solus Altíssimus,
For Thou alone art holy; Thou alone art Lord;
Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spíritu: in glória Dei Patris.
O Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the Glory of God the Father.
Amen.
Amen.

Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem,
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
factorem cæli et terræ, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.
maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible:
Et in unum Dominum, Jesum Christum,
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia sæcula.
the only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages;
Deum de Deo, Lumen de Lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God;
genitum non factum, consubstantialem Patri;
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father,
per quem omnia facta sunt.
by whom all things were made;
Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de cælis.
who for us men and for our salvation descended from heaven.
Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est.
He was incarnate by the Holy Ghost out of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato passus, et sepultus est,
He was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried:
et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas,
And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures:
et ascendit in cælum, sedet ad dexteram Patris.
And ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father:
Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos,
And the same shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead:
cuius regni non erit finis;
Of whose kingdom there shall be no end;
Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem,
And (I believe) in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and life-giver,
qui ex Patre Filioque procedit.
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur:
who, with the Father and the Son, together is worshiped and glorified,
qui locutus est per prophetas.
who has spoken through the prophets.
Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam.
And (I believe in) one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church,
Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum.
I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.
Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum,
And I await the resurrection of the dead:
et vitam venturi sæculi. 
and the life of the coming age. 
Amen.
Amen.

Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato; passus et sepultus est. 
He was crucified for us: suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried.
Et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas. 
And rose on the third day, in fulfillment of Scripture.
Et ascendit in cœlum, sedet ad dexteram Patris.
And ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.
Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, 
And he will come again in glory,
judicare vivos et mortuos, 
To judge the living and the dead,
cuius regni non erit finis.
and his kingdom will have no end.

qui ex Patre Filioque procedit.
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur:
who, with the Father and the Son, together is worshiped and glorified,
qui locutus est per prophetas.
who has spoken through the prophets.
Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam.
And (I believe in) one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church,
Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum.
I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.
Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum,
And I await the resurrection of the dead:
et vitam venturi sæculi. 
and the life of the coming age. 
Amen.
Amen.

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts
Pleni sunt cæli et terra gloria tua. 
Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.
Hosanna in excelsis.
Hosanna in the highest.

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. 
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in excelsis.
Hosanna in the highest.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.