Fragment (sometimes added to Richafort's Missa pro defunctis) for the death of king Phillipus II (1527 - 1698) of Spain who died in 1598. Lobo was Maestro de capilla at Toledo cathedral from 1593 and Seville cathedral from 1603. He published a volume of masses and motets in a Palestrinian style in 1602, and left more church music in manuscript.
♫ Libera me
© Brilliant Classics 95789
The Libera me Domine de morte aeterna is a plainchant from the Exsequiarum Ordo more specific a Responsorium sung during the final blessing of the coffin on its catafalque. This Libera me (there are more (4) plain-chant variations known and in use) is an old Responsorium out of the In Exsequis and sung in the part Absolutio super tulum and is published in the old Liber Usualis page 1767.
This used text is not to be confused with the Libera me Domine de vis inferni which is sung after the ninth lesson from the Officium Defunctorum ad Matutinum page 1798 in the Liber Usualis.
But after the Missa pro defunctis, in the absolutio pro Defunctis is indeed sung this Libera me Domine de morte aeterna.
This setting of the Libera me Domine de morte aeterna by Alonso Lobo is written for five voices (SSTTB) alternated with the belonging plainchant. We make notice nor the belonging plainchant neither the more voice setting are found in the manuscript from the time Lobo lived. But this vocal setting is found in the Toledo Cathedral due to the fact that the setting of this Libera me by Lobo is continuously used in funeral services in the Toledo Cathedral. In general the belonging plainchant of Lobo’s time survived in old choir-books. The imposing vocal settings by Lobo are short but consists out of 83 bars and are written in polyphonic of course more homophonic style. In good tradition the Respond is repeated as a whole up to “per ignem” and ends with a threefold Kyrië eleison, Lord have mercy upon us. In this work Lobo uses extra flats, and sharps to express his feelings.
This funeral motet is found in the Toledo Cathedral, Libro de polifonia no. 24 in a manuscript compiled in the eighteenth century. Due to the fact Alonso Lobo was Maestro di capilla of Toledo Cathedral (1593-1604) this piece shall be set by Alonso Lobo in that period.
Text:
R. Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna, in die illa tremenda
quando coeli movendi sunt et terra, dum veneris iudicare saeculum per ignem.
V. Tremens factus sum ego et timeo, dum discussio venerit atque venture ira:
quando coeli movendi sunt et terra.
V. Dies illa, dies irae,
Calamitatis et miseriae, dies magna et amara valde.
Dum veneris iudicare saeculum per ignem.
V. Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine: Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
R. Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna, in die illa tremenda
quando coeli movendi sunt et terra, dum veneris iudicare saeculum per ignem.
V. Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison
Translation:
R. Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death on that awful day
when the heavens and earth shall be shaken and Thou shall come to judge the world by fire.
V. I am seized with fear and trembling until the trial is at hand and the wrath to come:
when the heavens and earth shall be shaken.
V. This day, this day of wrath, that day of disaster and misery,
That day of great and exceeding bitterness, when Thou shall come
to judge the world through fire.
V. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
R. Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death on that awful day
when the heavens and earth shall be shaken and Thou shall come to judge the world by fire.
V. Lord have mercy upon us, Christ have mercy upon us,
Lord have mercy upon us.