Rorate caeli desuper (Four Motets on Plainsong Themes, No. 1)

Nestor, Leo (1948–2019)

Voicing:
Mixed Choir → SATB

Accompaniment:
Unaccompanied

Function/Language(s):
Latin

Occasion:

Proper of Time → Advent → General Advent Season
Proper of Time → Advent → Fourth Sunday of Advent → Cycle A
Proper of Time → Advent → Fourth Sunday of Advent → Cycle B
Proper of Time → Advent → Fourth Sunday of Advent → Cycle C

Publication Information:
E. C. Schirmer — 5159 (1997)

Text Information:
Reference: Anonymous, Paris (1634)

Duration: 5:15
Lyrics:

Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum.

Ne irascaris, Domine!
Ne ultra memineris iniquitatem.
Ecce civitas sancta facta est deserta:
Sion deserta facta est.
Jerusalem desolata facta:
Domus sanctificationis tuae et gloriae tuae,
ubi laudaverunt te patres nostri.

Vide, Domine, afflictionem populi tui,
et mitte quem missurus es:
emitte Agnum, dominatorem terrae,
de petra deserti ad montem filiae Sion:
ut auferat ipse jugum captivitatis nostrae.

Consolamini, popule meus:
cito veniet salus tua.
Quare moerore consumeris? Quia innovavit te dolor?
Salvabo te: noli timere.
Ego enim sum Dominus Deus tuus:
Sanctus Israel, Redemptor tuus.

English translation:
Ye heavens, open from above,
that clouds may rain the Just One.

Do not be angry, Lord, our God!
No longer be mindful of our past offenses.
See how Zion, thy city, now has been deserted.
Jerusalem now is left abandoned.
This is the holy mountain of your presence and place of your glory,
where our fathers sang your praise.

See, O Lord our God, the great affliction of your people,
and send down Him who is to come.
Send forth the Chosen, send forth the Lamb to save us;
the rock in the desert visits the daughters of Zion:
that he may bring rescue, freeing us from the yoke of captivity.

Be ye comforted, Israel my people;
quickly he will come, your salvation.
Why has this sorrowing consumed you?
Why have pain and sadness come to you?
Your Savior comes: do not be fearful.
I am always your Lord God and your Savior:
Israel’s Holy One, and your Redeemer.

Notes: SATB with divisi in all parts.
Submitted by: Brian Luckner Added: Feb 5, 2022