Nicolas Gombert - Lugebat David Absalon

From our album "Penitence & Lamentation" (2023)
www.scribestud...
The album begins with "Lugebat David Absalon," David's lament for his son whom he loved dearly despite Absalom's open rebellion against him. This text was set by many other composers of the day, notably Josquin des Prez, Thomas Tomkins, and Thomas Weelkes, but perhaps no other setting is as long or intense as this one. From the sighing motif Heu, me (“Ah, me”) in the first part to the wailing fili mi Absalon ("my son Absalom") that ends the piece, this portrayal of David's grief goes through many stages with starkly different moods. The line "et clamabat voce magna" ("and cried with a great voice") makes us feel the bellowing of David's cries, an especially potent example of text painting, which gives the second part of the piece a more intense and urgent feel than the first. - Joshua Haberman
***
Lugebat David Absalon,
pius pater filium,
tristis senex puerum:
Heu me, fili mi Absalon,
ut ego pro te moriar,
quis mihi det ut moriar,
O fili mi Absalon!
Rex autem David filium,
cooperto flebat capite:
Quis mihi det ut moriar, O fili mi, O fili mi!
Porro rex operuit caput suum,
et clamabat voce magna:
Fili mi Absalon, O fili mi.
***
David mourned for Absalon,
a pious father for his son,
a grieving old man for his boy:
Ah me! my son Absalon,
would God I had died for you,
O my son Absalon!
King David wept for his son
with covered head:
Would God I had died for you, O my son!
Then the King covered his head
and cried with a great voice:
O my son Absalon, O my son!
***
Produced by @scribestudiosus
The Byrd Ensemble, directed by Markdavin Obenza
Soprano: Margaret Obenza, Danielle Reutter-Harrah
Alto: Sarra Sharif Doyle, Joshua Haberman
Tenor: Orrin Doyle, Sam Faustine
Bass: Thomas Segen, Clayton Moser

[@ms25risa4]

A very moving piece of music sang to perfection ♥️!

[@MarkdavinObenza]

Thank you very much!

[@Byrdensemble]

Thank you!

[@WilliamTorbert-s1y]

Exquisite. Much needed exhilaration. Thanks!

[@rogerftaylor20]

Such a beautiful, pure sound and the polyphony is so clear! Thank you!

[@MarkdavinObenza]

Thank you so much Roger!

[@ellyjean]

Utterly beautiful.

[@MarkdavinObenza]

Thank you!

[@classypiano]

Amazing!

[@Byrdensemble]

Thanks!