Coro Primo
Catherine Webster, soprano
Meg Bragle, alto
Jennifer Ellis Kampani, tenor (soprano)
Karen Clark, bass (alto)
Coro Secondo
Ruth Escher, soprano
Suzanne Jubenville, alto
Andrea Fullington, tenor (soprano)
Elizabeth Anker, bass (alto)
John Dornenburg, violone
David Tayler, theorbo
Hanneke van Proosdij, organ
Warren Stewart, conductor
If the first psalm, Dixit Dominus, with its unusual refrain, constantly varying textures and martial affect represents one side of Cozzolani's 1650 collection, Confitebor tibi displays another. The concertato duet and trio writing found in the first psalm are present here as well as are the tutti declamatory, martial and antiphonal sections.
The difference here begins on the structural level: there are no refrains in the strict sense. Instead, the common pun of the return of the opening at 'Sicut erat in principio' ('as it was in the beginning') is employed; this feature seems to be normal for Milanese settings of this text in the 1640s. However, one feature that distinguishes Confitebor tibi: the return of this opening's 'walking' bass at two points: in a triple time form at verse 7, 'Ut det illis', and at the canto duet 'Redemptionem misit' (verse 9.) Thus Confitebor represents a more subtle recurrence of the refrain idea that characterizes almost all the eight-voice settings.
Second are smaller-scale features: the declamation in the tuttis is rather quicker than in Dixit; and there is more interest in local solo-tutti contrast. Cozzolani highlights the 'fearful' affect of the half-verse 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisom' by a syncopation and a turn to cantus mollis. The whole effect is to move Confitebor tibi closer to the salmo corrente, without however falling into a largely antiphonal homophonic declamation characteristic of that sub-genre. Only at the end of the text, with the long melodic periods on 'Laudation eius manet in sæculum sæculi', does Cozzolani revert to the more expansive manner of Dixit Dominus.
lyrics
Text & English Translation
Confitebor tibi Domine in toto corde meo:
in consilio iustorum et congregatione.
Magna opera Domini:
exquisita in omnes voluntates eius.
Confessio et magnificentia opus eius:
et iustitia eius manet in sæculum sæculi.
Memoriam fecit mirabilium suorum
misericors et miserator Dominus:
escam dedit timentibus se.
Memor erit in sæculum testamenti sui:
virtutem operum suorum annuntiabit populo suo.
Ut det illis hereditatem gentium:
opera manuum eius veritas et iudicium.
Fidelia omnia mandata eius
confirmata in sæculum sæculi:
facta in veritate et æquitate.
Redemptionem misit populo suo:
mandavit in æternum testamentum suum.
Sanctum et terribile nomen eius:
initium sapientiæ timor Domini.
Intellectus bonus omnibus facientibus eum:
laudatio eius manet in sæculum sæculi.
Gloria Patri et Filio:
et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper:
et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
I will praise thee, O Lord with my whole heart:
in the council of the just and in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord:
sought out according to all his wills.
His work is praise and magnificence:
and his justice continues for ever.
He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works being a merciful and gracious Lord:
he hath given food to them that fear him.
He will be mindful forever of his covenant:
he will show to his people the power of his works.
That he may give them the inheritance of the Gentiles:
the works of his hands are truth and judgment.
All his commandments are faithful
confirmed for ever and ever:
made in truth and equity.
He hath sent redemption to his people:
he hath commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and terrible is his name:
the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
A good understanding of all that do this:
his praise contiueth for ever and ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son:
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is and ever shall be:
world without end. Amen.
For 20 years Magnificat has explored the emotionally charged music of the 17th Century, each season bringing together an
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