Carissimi: Jephte (1/3) Le Parlement de Musique

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• Carissimi: Jephte (1/3...
Giacomo Carissimi
Jephte
Sacred Oratorio for 6 voices (SSSATB), organ and basso continuo
Composed: c. 1650
In this recording:
Jephte: Luca Dordolo, tenor
Filia: Elisa Franzetti, soprano
Stephan Van Dick, altus
Mercedes Hernandez, soprano
Emmanuelle Halimi, soprano
Stephan Imboden, bass
Le Parlement de Musique,
conducted by Martin Gester
Recorded in October 2000
Jephte is based on the biblical text from Judges, but the oratorio uses a considerably expanded text. Besides paraphrasing the biblical narrative the anonymous librettist has written entirely new texts for the dramatic moments.
The original accompaniment was only specified as a figured bass continuo for organ. Some editions add two treble instruments in addition to a bass instrument in the full choruses, doubling the top two parts and the bass part. Also, some performance guidelines suggest adding or substituting harpsichord in solo sections.
Further reading:
members.macconn...
At the link above, you can find extensive information on topics below:
- Carissimi and the Birth of the Oratorio
- Notes on the composition of the oratorio, Jephte
- Translation of the oratorio text
- Recommended recordings
- Bibliography
- Web sites with more information
For Latin text with Spanish translation:
www.audicoelum....
Score:
www.cpdl.org/wi...
About the score: I had to edit the score to fit the way it was performed in this recording. At the final chorus (video part III), the repeat was performed differently, that is to say 12 measures were skipped at the second turn. I left alone, however, the variations of the text on recording compared to the score (i.e., at part XII, sung by Filia, during the passage where the text "et Israel victoriam" is sung, score repeats the words "et Israel" while the soprano repeats "victoriam" instead).
- Video part I:
I. Historicus - Alto solo:
Cum vocasset in proelium
II. Jephte - Tenor solo:
Si tradiderit Dominus
III. Historicus - Chorus:
Transivit ergo Jephte
IV. Historicus - Chorus S.2, S.3:
Et clangebant tubae
V. Historicus - Bass solo:
Fugite, fugite, credite, credite impii
VI. Chorus:
Fugite, fugite, credite, credite impii
VII. Historicus - Soprano 2 solo:
Et percussit Jephte
VIII. Historicus - Chorus S.2, S.3, A:
Et ululantes filii Ammon
IX. Historicus - Bass solo:
Cum autem victor Jephte
X. Filia - Soprano 1 solo:
Incipite in tympanis et psallite in cymbalis
XI. Chorus S.2, S.3:
Hymnum cantemus Domino
XII. Filia - Soprano 1 solo:
Cantate mecum Domino

XIII. Chorus:
Cantemus omnes Domino
- Video part II:
XIV. Historicus - Alto solo:
Cum vidisset Jephte
XV. Jepthe - Tenor solo:
Heu, heu mihi filia mea, heu!
XVI. Filia - Soprano 1 solo:
Cur ego te pater decepi
XVII. Jepthe - Tenor solo:
Aperui os meum ad Dominum
XVIII. Filia - Soprano 1 solo:
Pater mi
XIX. Jepthe - Tenor solo:
Quid poterit animam tuam
XX. Filia - Soprano 1 solo:
Dimitte me
XXI. Jepthe - Tenor solo:
Vade filia
XXII. Historicus Chorus S.2, S.3, A, B:
Abiit ergo in montes filia Jephte
- Video part III:
XXIII. Filia; Eco - Soprano 1; Soprano 2, 3:
Plorate, plorate colles
XXIV. Chorus:
Plorate, filii Israel