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

All:                      

Crucifige Eum!

Soloist:             

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

All:                         

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 to Him 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: Vere Filius Dei erat iste.

3 Portae Inferi

All :                     

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,

Solvae saecum et favilla

TB:                        Nove cerchi del’inferno

SA:                        Sospiri eterni senza speme
TB:                        Bufera infernal senza posa
SA:                        Fango e pioggia su l’ingordi
TB:                       Pesi spingon per l’eterno
SA:                       Nel fango s’urtan con furor
TB:                       Ardon chiusi in tombe roventi
SA:                       Sangue e spine, pena cruda
TB:                       Inganni celati nel foco
SA:                       Nel gelo eterno, cor tradito

‘A great trembling is heard.’

5 Recit.

Narrator 1:      

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 2:      

The patriarchs stirred first.

Isaiah spoke, trembling:

Isaiah:              

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

Narrator 2:      

And Jeremiah answered

Jeremiah:        

The Lord has remembered his promise; Vivent mortui tui

Narrator 2:      

Then David, lifting his voice, cried:

David:               

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

Narrator 1:      

The iron bars lay broken before them.

One by one, they came nearer.

Narrator 2:      

And Christ, moving among them not distant, but present called each as though known eternally.

To some he gave a word, to others only his hand.

Narrator 1:      

The righteous gathered around him like travellers who at last recognise their homeland.

Only then did he come to Adam, who stood apart in the shadow of the place where all sorrow had begun.

And taking him by the hand, Christ said:

6. Liberation

All:                      

Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and I shall give thee light.

And Adam rose.

7 Nunc Dimitis

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.

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