Examined the literature this offertory Domine Jesu Christe could be considered as a solitaire work. This Domine Jesu Christe is an offertory out of the Missa pro defunctis (see liber Usualis edition 1936, page 1813). This Offertory is set by Baban in Poychoral style for 8 voices consisting out Coro I SATB and Coro II SATB. As unfigured continuo Baban prescribes in the score a harp or a spinet. The first sentence of this offertory will be sung in plainchant by the Altus in Coro II. This incipit is notated at the bottom of the 19th century manuscript (1890) with harp or spinet line. Thereafter Coro I starts in Altus/Bassus with a descending minor-third (e-c#) and in Superior/Tenor (a-f#). Baban starts the movement in a polychoral but imitative way Ms. 1-4. In Coro II Altus and Superius followed in a descending minor-third (e-c#) Bassus, and Tenor with a minor-third (a-f#). Thereafter unfolds the polychoral imitative but slightly homophonic polyphony in baroque style. As from Ms. 5 the Altus of Coro II quotes the belonging plainchant in long notes up to the end. There is in general a slightly certain predominance of vertically and homophony, but of course with frequent inclusion of passages dialogue between the two choirs/ Coro. Nevertheless the whole work is set in imitative style, with a lot of descending lines in Coro I and Coro II. In Ms. 27 – 32 only Coro II is acting. Sometimes we see real homophonic phrases in Ms 57 -62 and from Ms. 71- 77 in Coro I. Baban omitted the belonging Verse ‘Hostias et preces. This work is set in D-Dorian and contains 79 measures. This work is found in Obres polifoniques de diversoso autors folio 173-178 published round 1890, Ofertorio de la Misa de Requiem and in a manuscrit de 1920, folio 30 num. 27.
Text of Offertorio Domine Jesu Christe, difuntos:
Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, (in PLAINCHANT):
libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum
de poenis inferni,
et de profundo lacu.
Libera eas de ore leonis,
ne absorbeat eas tartarus,
ne cadant in obscurum.
Sed signifer sanctus Michaël
representet eas in lucem sanctam,
quam olim Abrahae promisisti
et semini ejus.
Hostias et preces tibi, (is OMMITED by Baban)
Domine, laudis offerimus.
Tu suscipe pro animabus illis
quarum hodie memoriam facimus.
Fac eas, Domine,
de morte transire ad vitam,
quam olim Abrahae promisisti
et semini ejus.
Translation:
Lord Jesus Christ, king of glory,
deliver the soulds of all the faithful departed
from the pains of Hell
and the bottomless pit.
Deliver them from the jaws of the lion,
lest hell engulf them,
lest they be plunged into darkness;
but let the holy standard-bearer Michael
lead them into the holy light,
as once you promised to Abraham
and to his seed.
Lord, in praise we offer you
Sacrifices and prayers,
accept them on behalf of those
who we remember this day:
Lord, make them pass
from death to life,
as once you promised to Abraham
and to his seed.