The Rose Ensemble live in Vars, France: "Stabat Mater" (plainchant)

Sequence: Stabat Mater (plainchant, mode II)
Source: Liber Usualis (discantus: Jordan Sramek, The Rose Ensemble)
Members of The Rose Ensemble:
Bethany Battafarano, Kristina Boerger, Amanda Jane Kelley (soprano)
Alyssa Anderson, Clara Osowski (mezzo-soprano)
Jordan Sramek (Founder/Artistic Director & psaltery)
Performed live at Centre Cecumenique, Vars, France
July 27, 2017
Presented by: Festival des Chœurs Lauréats (Vaison-la-Romaine)
PROGRAM NOTES:
The haunting Stabat Mater is considered one of the most important pieces of Latin liturgical poetry. It is based upon the prophecy of Simeon that a sword was to pierce the heart of Jesus’s mother, Mary (Lk 2:35). The hymn originated in the 13th century during the peak of Franciscan devotion to the crucified Jesus and has been attributed to Pope Innocent III (d. 1216), Saint Bonaventure, or more commonly, Jacopone da Todi, OFM (1230-1306), who is considered by most to be the real author. We add to this gorgeous plainchant both instrumental accompaniment and improvised simple harmonies based on the cantus/discantus practice of the time.
LATIN TEXT:
Stabat Mater dolorosa
iuxta crucem lacrimosa,
dum pendebat Filius.
Cuius animam gementem
contristatam et dolentem
pertransivit gladius.
O quam tristis et afflicta
fuit illa benedicta
mater Unigeniti!
Quae maerebat et dolebat
pia mater cum videbat
nati poenas incliti.
Quis est homo qui non fleret,
matrem Christi si videret
in tanto supplicio?
Quis non posset contristari,
piam matrem contemplari
dolentum cum Filio?
Pro peccatis suae gentis
vidit Iesum in tormentis
et flagellis subditum.
Vidit suum dulcem Natum
morientem, desolatum,
cum emisit spiritum.
Eia Mater, fons amoris,
me sentire vim doloris
fac, ut tecum lugeam.
Fac ut ardeat cor meum
in amando Christum Deum
ut sibi complaceam.
Sancta mater, istud agas,
Crucifixi fige plagas
cordi meo valide.
Tui Nati vulnerati
tam dignati pro me pati
poenas mecum divide.
Fac me vere tecum flere
Crucifixo condolere,
donec ego vixero.
Iuxta crucem tecum stare
ac me tibi sociare
in planctu desidero.
Virgo virginum praeclara,
mihi iam non sis amara;
fac me tecum plangere.
Fac ut portem Christi mortem,
passionis fac me sortem
et plagas recolere.
Fac me plagis vulnerari,
cruce hac inebriari
et cruore Filii.
Flammis urar ne succensus,
per te, Virgo, sim defensus
in die iudicii.
Fac me cruce custodiri,
morte Christi praemuniri,
confoveri gratia.
Quando corpus morietur,
fac ut animae donetur
paradisi gloria.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
The grieving mother stood
beside the cross weeping
where her son was hanging.
Through her weeping soul,
compassionate and grieving,
a sword passed.
O how sad and afflicted
was that blessed
mother of the only-begotten!
Who mourned and grieved,
the pious mother, with seeing
the torment of her glorious Son.
Who is the man who would not weep
if seeing the mother of Christ
in such agony?
Who would not be have compassion
on beholding the devout mother
suffering with her Son?
For the sins of his people
she saw Jesus in torment
and subjected to the scourge.
She saw her sweet son
dying, forsaken,
while he gave up his spirit.
O Mother, fountain of love,
make me feel the power of sorrow,
that I may grieve with you.
Grant that my heart may burn
in the love of the Lord Christ
that I may greatly please him.
Holy Mother, grant this of yours,
that the wounds of the crucified
be well-formed in my heart.
Grant that the punishment of your wounded son,
so worthily suffered for me,
may be shared with me.
Let me sincerely weep with you,
bemoan the crucified,
for as long as I live.
To stand beside the cross with you,
and for me to join you
in mourning, this I desire.
Chosen Virgin of virgins,
to me, now, be not bitter;
let me mourn with you.
Grant that I may bear the death of Christ;
grant me the fate of his passion
and the remembrance of his wounds.
Let me be wounded with distress,
inebriated in this way by the cross
and the blood of your Son.
Lest I be destroyed by fire, set alight,
then through you, Virgin, may I be defended
on the day of judgment.
Let me be guarded by the cross,
fortified by the death of Christ,
and cherished by grace.
When my body dies,
grant that to my soul is given
the glory of paradise.