Edition notes: Source: Nicoli Gombert: Opera omnia, VIII, ed. Joseph Shmidt-Görg, A.I.M., 1970. Notation here is a tone higher than the original with note values halved. Translation (with major help, including text correction, from Quintus), text underlay, editorial accidentals, alterations and emendations (see last page) by John Hetland and the Renaissance Street Singers. 10 May 2020
General Information
Title:Caeciliam cantate pii Composer:Nicolas Gombert Lyricist:
Concórdes ígitur
vóce laéta módos,
Perstrépet hic lítuus
cítharae, calámus, decachórdum,
Cumque foramínibus,
tíbia, pléctra, líra,
Týmpana cum córdis,
óris quóque córnua fléxi,
Cýmbala, testúdo,
bárbita ráuca mélis,
Ars hóminum quídquid vel réperit,
ílla sonórum.
Laudáre vólumus,
plángere Caecíliam.
Música Caecíliam
sápiens quis néscit amáre,
Cum cécinit spónso
cármina spónsa súo?
English translation
Sing of Cecilia, devout folk,
sing, modest folk.
May songs with melodies
and songs favor her.
Let organs resound to Cecilia,
and the loud-voiced Muses'
Sweet organs
delight Cecilia,
And the harmonious melodies
of their voices please her.
Therefore, with happy
voice in harmonious notes,
let the trumpet here resound,
citharas, pipe, harp,
and with its holes,
the flute, lutes, lyre,
drums accompanied by strings,
and horns with curved tube,
cymbals, tortoise shell,
lutes with rasping strains,
whatever mankind's art has found,
that tuneful thing.
We wish to praise,
to lament Cecilia.
What wise man knows not how
to love Cecilia with music,
When she sang to her husband
hymns she had promised him?
Latin text
English translation