♫ Peccantem me quotidie
© Signum Records SIGCD 408
“Peccantem me quotidie” is a motet from the Responsorium de Officium Defunctorum Ad Matutinum composed by Parsons for five voices (CAATB). Unfortunately the Tenor part has lost. So we have a four part version remain of this Respond Peccantem me quotidie. But in the mentioned labels on CD we will hear an added Tenor part. That part is reconstructed among others by Mick Swithinbank, Michael Procter did so in his edition with a look to the Cantus part.
The Peccantem me quotidie is an old Responsorium, Respond which is still published in the old Liber Usualis page 1797 and is sung after Lectio VII in the third Nocturn.
But Parsons uses in this case the text of the Respond nr. 68 which is not published in the Liber usualis. This used version of the Peccantem me quotidie is an old Responsorium. There are about 138 Responsoria de Officium Defunctorum, Responds from Office of the Dead known and used all over Europe during centuries in the Office of the Dead. They are all well ordered, this is number 68. The choice of texts and the order in which they occur in the sources vary according to local uses!
Parsons has written this Respond motet without the belonging Versicle of the Office of the Dead, Commissa mea nr. 34.
Perhaps Parsons uses the York office, or Cluny sources, or other sources. In this case Parsons uses the text of the Respond nr. 68.
In a imitative peaceful quite polyphonic counterpoint the parts following each other, starting with Altus 2, followed by Tenor, Cantus, Bassus and Altus 1. The motet in total contains 62 bars. Moreover Parsons quotes in the Altus I as a cantus firmus a free version of the whole plainchant, starting in the last voice in bar 10. Particularly in this Respond Parsons uses sharps to express his feelings and more to underline the fervency of the used text. In this piece contrary to the “Libera me Domine” Parsons wrote nearly one note per syllable, excluded the part in cantus firmus, Altus 1.
This work appears in the Christ Church Music 979-983, about 1580-1600.
Text:
R. Peccantem me quotidie et non penitentem me, timor mortis conturbat me, quia in inferno nulla est redemptio. Miserere mei, deus, et salva me.
Translation:
R. The fear of death overwhelms me, who sin every day and not repent: for in hell there is no redemption. Have mercy on me, O God and spare me.