O admirabile commercium (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina)

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CPDL #18553:  Finale 2007

Editor: Paul R. Marchesano (submitted 2008-12-14).   Score information: Letter, 6 pages, 74 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: O admirabile commercium
Composer: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SATTB

Genre: Sacred, Motet

Language: Latin
Instruments: a cappella
Published: The motet comes from a collection entitled Florilegium sacrarum cantionum published by Phalèse in Antwerp in 1602.

Description: The text of this motet is often translated poetically. The original text uses the relatively rare word, commercium, lit. "intercourse/sex" and the phrase, sine semine, literally "without semen".

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Original text and translations

Latin text O admirabile commercium: creator generis humani,
animatum corpus sumens de virgine nasci dignatus est;
et procedens homo sine semine,
largitus est nobis suam Deitatem.

English text O admirable exchange: the creator of human-kind,
taking on a living body was worthy to be born of a virgin,
and, coming forth as a human without seed,
has given us his deity in abundance.

Common Poetic Translation:
O wonderful gift: the creator of the human race,
taking our flesh upon him, deigns to be born of a virgin;
and, coming forth without seed of man,
bestows his Divinity upon us.