♫ Si bona suscepimus
© Hyperion Records CDA68064
This motet ‘Si bona suscepimus’ is an old Responsorium. There are about 138 Responsoria de Officium Defunctorum, Responds from Office of the Dead known and used during centuries in the Office of the Dead. They are all well ordered, this is number 87. One of the two corresponding Versicle from the Office of the Dead “ Nudus egressus” number 156 is even used by Lassus. The use of Responds and Versicles of The Office of the Dead vary per region all over Europe. This long Respond with Versicle is written by Lassus for 5 voices (SAATB). In general the text is coming out of the Book Job.
It starts with imitative polyphony with the voices entering the ones after the others, Tenor, Bassus, Altus II, Soprano and Altus I. As mentioned with other motets Lassus uses flats and sharps to express his feelings. But very special he gives extra homophonic accents with the wording ‘Dominus’, Lord.
It starts with one voice while the others in homophony answers with full character and long notes ‘Dominus’ ( bars 35, 38, 84 and 88). It’s interesting to hear and see it, even the following bars three voices imitative repeating each other in ‘dedit’ and ‘abstulit’ ( with the notes quarters : do, re, mi, fa, sol eights in singing)! Lassus understands the wording and gave them sophisticated accents!
The Versicle starts in bar 61 with Altus II and ends with bar 84. Due to normal practice the Respond-text will come back in from bar 84 with the mentioned imposing Dominus! This means that this motet is written for use in the services. Lassus uses polyphonic imitative style. It’s remarkable Lassus ends this mourning motet in full A. This motet is published in Moduli quinis vocibus nunquam hactenus editi (Paris, 1571).
Text:
Si bona suscepimus de manu domine, mala autem quare non sustineamus?
Dominus dedit dominus abstulit sicut domino placuit ita factum est. Sit nomen domini benedictum.
V. Nudus egressus sum de utero matris meae, nudus revertar illuc.
R. Dominus dedit dominus abstulit sicut domino placuit ita factum est. Sit nomen domini benedictum.
Translation:
If we have received good things at the hand of God, why should we not endure evil?
The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away: as it has pleased the Lord, so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord.
V. Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither.
R. The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away: as it has pleased the Lord, so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord.