A motet from the Responsorium de Officium Defunctorum Ad Matutinum. Responsory from Matins of the Dead and written by Jacob Clement for four voices (SA/TTB). The Responsorium Heu/Hei mihi, Domine is still published in the old Liber Usualis page 1791/92 and is sung after Lectio V in the second nocturn. The Heu mihi, Domine is written by Jacob Clemet in a fluent modest polyphonic counterpoint, using flats and sharps, fine dissonant and the chosen mode a minor to express his feelings. The first part consists out of 78 bars. Like we saw in Crecquillon (c.1510-1557 Jacobus Clement didn’t use the last sentence of the Respond (Misere mei dum veneris in novissimo die) in this part of the Respond. And in the repetition of the Respond Jacob Clement only omitted Miserere mei.
In this motet Jacob Clement uses imitative polyphonic style starting with Superior followed by Tenor I, Tenor II and Bass. The second part starts with the belonging Versicle ‘Anima mea’ starting in the Superior, followed by Tenor I, Tenor II and Bass and ends from bar 101 (by Tenor II) with the last part of the Respond. Which was normal practice in the Service in that time. The secunda pars contains 49 bars. Due to the chosen text you should perform the parts together. The Versicle ends in A-major. A work with fine dissonant chords. The total motet Heu mihi, Domine contains 127 bars. For good understanding I have placed the not used text compared to the Liber Usualis between brackets, see below.
The Respond Heu mihi has been published in:
Liber primus ecclesiasticarum cantionum quatuor vocum vulgo moteta vocant, tam ex Veteri quam ex Novo Testamento, ab optimis quibusque huius aetatis musicis compositarum. Antea nunquam excusus. - Antwerpen, T. Susato, 1553. 4 vol. and Motetti del Laberinto, a quatro voci libro secondo. Sacrarum cantionum sive motettorum, Thome Cricquillonis: Clementis non Papae, aliorumque praestantissimorum auctorum... - Venezia, G. Scotto, 1554. 4 vol.; Sextus tomus Evangeliorum, et piarum sententiarum. Quatuor, sex, et octo vocum. Continens historias & doctrinam, quae in Ecclesia proponi solet: de Poenitentia Nuernberg. J. Montanus & U. Neuber (s.d.) 5 vol. 1556
♫ Heu mihi, Domine
© Hyperion Records CDA 67848
The text of Heu mihi and Anima mea:
R. Heu mihi Domine quia peccavi nimis, in vita mea:
quid faciam miser? ubi fugiam nisi ad te Deus meus?
[Miserere mei dum veneris in novissimo die.]
V. Anima mea turbata est valde sed tu Domine succurre mihi:
[miserere mei] R. dum veneris in novissimo die.
Translation:
R. Woe is me, Lord, for I have sinned greatly.
What shall become of me, wretch that I am;
where shall I flee, except to Thee, O Lord.
[Have mercy on me when Thou shalt come on the last day]
V. My soul is greatly troubled but Thou, O Lord, sustainest me:
[have mercy on me] R. when Thou shalt come on the last day.