DESCRIPTION

My goal for this arrangement was to bring out the mystery inherent in the plainchant melody and text. 

To that end, I created a constant background of suspended sound in the accompanying voices, while each voice (from soprano down to bass) takes a turn singing the melody of one verse, in alternating keys (E-flat, B-flat, E-flat, B-flat).

This creates a mysterious and lulling effect, up until the final measures of the piece, where the phrase “In perenni gloria!” (“In eternal glory!”) shines through majestically.

TEXT INFO

Qui Creavit Caelum  (The Song of the Nuns of Chester)

13th or 14th-century text, from “The Processional of the Nuns of Chester”

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Complete text:

Qui creavit caelum,
      Lully, lully, lu,
Nascitur in stabulo,
      By, by, by, by, by,
Rex qui regit saeculum,
      Lully, lully, lu.

Joseph emit panniculum,
Mater involvit Puerum,
Et ponit in praesepio.

Lactat Mater Domini,
Osculatur parvulum,
Et adorat Dominum.

Roga, mater, Filium,
Ut det nobis gaudium,
In perenni gloria!

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Loose translation:

He who made the starry skies,
Sleeping in a manger lies,
Ruler of the centuries.

Joseph brings a garment there,
Mary wraps up her child so fair,
Rests him while she sings a prayer.

On his mother's breast he lies,
She will kiss him if he cries,
Ruler of the earth and skies.

Mother, pray thy sweet childing
Us eternal joys to bring,
That his praises we may sing!