I have reached a milestone in the writing of my Oratorio. The text (at least the condensed version for the Stoller Hall June Premiere) is complete!

Here it is:

1 Crucifixus

At the cry of the first bird, They began to crucify Thee, O Swan

Never shall lament cease because of that: It was like the parting of day from

night.

Ah, sore was the suffering borne by the body of Mary's Son,

But sorer still was the grief

Which for His sake, came upon His Mother.

2 Recit.

Narrator 1:      

Iesus autem iterum clamans voce magna emisit spiritum.

Et ecce velum templi scissum est in duas partes a summo usque deorsum: et terra mota est, et petrae scissae sunt,

et monumenta aperta sunt: et multa corpora sanctorum qui dormierant surrexerunt,

et exeuntes de monumentis post resurrectionem eius venerunt in sanctam civitatem et apparuerunt multis.

Centurio autem et qui cum eo erant custodientes Iesum, viso terraemotu et his quae fiebant, timuerunt valde, dicentes:

All:

Vere Filius Dei erat iste.

3 Portae Inferi

Per me si va ne la città dolente,

per me si va ne l’etterno dolore,

per me si va tra la perduta gente.

Dinanzi a me non fuor cose create

se non etterne, e io etterno duro.

Lasciate ogne speranza, voi

ch’intrate.

Attacca

4 Inferno- nove cerchi

All: Dies irae, Dies illa, Solvet saecum in favilla

TB: Nove cerchi del’inferno pene eterno delle anime

SA: Limbo, Sospiri eterni senza speme

TB: Lussuria, Bufera infernal senza posa

SA: Fango e pioggia su l’ingordi. Gola,

Frode, Ira, Eresia, Violenzia

All: Pesi spingon per l’eterno Nel Fango con furor.

Ardon in tombe roventi, Sangue e spine,

penaInganni celati nel foco

Nel gelo eterno, cor tradito.

‘A great trembling is heard.’

5 Recit.

All Soloists: As the gates fell and the darkness broke, a great light entered Hell:

not sudden, but growing, as though dawn were forcing its way into a place that had never known morning.

Narrator 1: The patriarchs stirred first and Isaiah spoke, trembling:

Isaiah: This is the light I foretold: Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam.

Narrator 1: Then David Cried aloud and Jeremiah answered

Jeremiah: The Lord has remembered his promise; Vivent mortui tui

Narrator 1: Then David said unto the saints:

David: "Attollite portas, principes, vestras, et elevamini, portae aeternales: et introibit rex gloriae."

Narrator 1: The iron bars lay broken before them. And one by one, they came nearer and Christ Said

All: Awake, Sleepers awake, and rise from the dead, Sleepers awake and I shall give thee light

All Soloists: And Adam, with all the saints, rose.

6 Nunc Dimittis

All:                      

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen: thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles: and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

7 Gloria

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

END