St. John the Baptist Preaching, c. 1665, by Mattia Preti
St. John the Baptist Preaching, c. 1665, by Mattia Preti

Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3 [Latin]

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.


Vox clamantis in deserto, by Juan Esquivel (c. 1560 – after 1625)

Vox clamantis in deserto (Esquivel)

Performed by the Choristers of the Schola Cantorum of Tewkesbury Abbey, with The Gesualdo Six

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Heinrich Schütz by Christoph Spätner, c. 1660 (Museum of Musical Instruments of Leipzig University)
Heinrich Schütz by Christoph Spätner, c. 1660 (Museum of Musical Instruments of Leipzig University)

Psalm 18:1-6 [Written and sung in German]

1 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.


Herzlich lieb hab’ich dich, o Herr, SWV 348, from Symphoniae sacrae II (1647), Op. 10, by Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672).

Symphoniae sacrae II, Op. 10, SWV 341-367: VIII. Herzlich lieb hab'ich dich, o Herr, SWV 348

Performed by Cappella Augustana

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Russian icon of the Prophet Isaiah, 18th century (iconostasis of Transfiguration Church, Kizhi monastery, Karelia, Russia)
Russian icon of the Prophet Isaiah, 18th century

Isaiah 55:7 [Written and sung in Latin]

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.


Derelinquit impius, no. 13, from Cantiones quae ab argumento sacrae vocantur (1575) – by Thomas Tallis (1505-1585)

Derelinquit impius

Performed by Alamire

 

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Orlande de Lassus
Orlande de Lassus (1532, possibly 1530 – 14 June 1594)

Psalm 102:1-28 [written and sung in Latin]

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee.

Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.

I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.

Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.

10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

12 But thou, O Lord, shall endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.

13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

16 When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.

17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.

19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth;

20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

21 To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

23 He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.

24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.

25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.


Penitential Psalm No. 5: Domine exaudi orationem meam, et clamor (first published in 1584), by Orlande de Lassus (1532-1594)

Lassus: Penitential Psalm No.5 - Domine exaudi orationem meam - Simon Preston

Performed by Choir of Christchurch Cathedral, Oxford Directed by Simon Preston

 

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