Trio Mediæval

Concert Program
Program Notes
Biography Text and Translation

Songs of Praise and Honor
Saturday, March 25, 2006
8 PM, Synod Hall

TRIO MEDIÆVAL
Anna Maria Friman
Linn Andrea Fuglseth
Torrun Østrem Ossum

Concert Program

Kyrie & Gloria from 'Messe de Tournai'	Anon, 13th C, France
Magdalena degna da laudare Lauda	Anon, 13th C, Italy
Beata Viscera Perotin Notre Dame Conductus	13th C, France
Credo from 'Messe de Tournai'	Anon, 13th C, France
Benedicti e llaudati Lauda	Anon, 13th C, Italy
Veni Creator Spiritus Notre Dame Conductus	Anon 13th C, France

INTERMISSION

Sanctus from 'Messe de Tournai'	Anon, 13th C, France
Ave regina Gloriosa Lauda	Anon, 13th C, Italy
Dum sigillum Perotin Agnus Dei from “Messe de Tournai”	Anon, 13th C, France
Oi me Lasso Lauda	Anon, 13th C, Italy
Ite Missa Est from 'Messe de Tournai'	Anon, 13th C, France

Program Notes

The movements of 'La Messe de Tournai' were re-discovered in the nineteenth century in the library of Tournai Cathedral. They are part of a fourteenth century manuscript, which contains only two other polyphonic pieces (a Kyrie and a Sanctus unrelated to this mass) and a great deal of miscellaneous plainchant in honour of the Virgin Mary. It is very unlikely that they are all by the same composer. The fact that they all come together in one manuscript is probably due to an executive decision in the Tournai scriptorium, based on use rather than authorship. The Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus dei seem to pre-date the other three movements on stylistic grounds, and were probably composed in the late thirteenth century. The Gloria, Credo and Ite missa est show the freer rhythms and more advanced triadic harmony of the Ars Nova. In other words, the compiler of the manuscript drew together pieces which were stylistically divergent, reminding us that stylistic development doesn't run in the straight lines that history books sometimes imply. Fourteenth century singers were clearly happy with what today we might consider a bit of a stylistic mishmash.

The monophonic music in the program is from a collection of Laude surviving in a thirteenth century manuscript from Cortona. The music may be older (Jacopone da Todi's poetry has been associated with the laudesi), and consists of monophonic spiritual songs. These are not liturgical pieces: the laudesi who originally sang them banded together in confraternities (not unlike the Franciscans) and were not usually associated with a particular church. They travelled from place to place, and the more zealous members are reported to have whipped themselves into a penitential frenzy. These outpourings of violent hysteria were presumably followed by periods of quiet reflection such as we hear in the music today.

It's hard for us to imagine now, but until quite late in the medieval period relatively little sacred polyphony was heard at all (either in church or elsewhere). Monophonic chant was the rock on which almost all musical experience was founded. In this context, even music composed for just two voices would have made a very special impression. Perhaps even more remarkable is that 4-voice polyphony appears quite early (in the form of Perotin's great conducti, composed in Notre Dame, Paris) but then in effect disappeared for hundreds of years before becoming the norm. It's as though singers and clerics were aware of the potential complexities of multi-voiced music, but preferred to keep their music focussed on clear, light textures, which enable the words to be clearly heard (even if they were not always understood). Polyphony seems to have originated in France, and in a remarkably short time, pieces for two or more voices appeared in monastic foundations all over Europe. The programme has two of the greatest works by Perotin. 'Beata Viscera' is a Marian monophonic conductus and shows Perotin's wonderful gift for melody. 'Dum Sigillum' is a neglected contrapuntal masterpiece, virtuosic and elaborately crafted, with syncopations that would not be out of place in more recent music.

None of the medieval music would have been sung by women. Medieval manuscripts show that women were just as likely as men to be singing secular music, but the unremitting hostility of the papacy to women in positions of power ensured that female religious houses could rarely support significant musical establishments. So the sound world that we enter here is an imaginary one, based on the question 'what if...?'.

Biography

The brilliant young Scandinavian sopranos of Trio Mediæval specialize in a diverse repertoire that features polyphonic medieval music from England and France, contemporary works written for the ensemble, and traditional Norwegian ballads and songs. Founded in Oslo in 1997, Trio Mediæval developed its unique repertory during intense periods of work at the Hilliard Summer Festivals in England and Germany between 1998 and 2000, and subsequently with Linda Hirst and John Potter. “Singing doesn't get more unnervingly beautiful,” wrote Joshua Kosman of the San Francisco Chonicle, who declared their San Franciso debut “among the musical highlights of the year.” He added, “To hear the group's note-perfect counterpoint - as pristine and inviting as clean, white linens - is to be astonished at what the human voice is capable of.”

At the outset of the 2005-06 season, Trio Mediæval's highly anticipated third release, Stella Maris, was released on ECM records. Tour highlights include performances in New York's Carnegie Hall (Weill) and Brooklyn Academy of Music, Washington DC's Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as well as debuts in Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis. Internationally, Trio Mediæval will perform at major venues and festivals in Antwerp, Tampere, Venice, and of course, Oslo.

The trio delights in performing new music and collaborates with a multitude of contemporary composers, including Gavin Bryars, Piers Hellawell, Roger Marsh, Ivan Moody, Paul Robinson, Gonzalo Mací as, Markus Ludwig, Thoma Simaku, Oleh Harkavyy, Bjørn Kruse and Andrew Smith. In March 2005, the trio premiered Shelter in Cologne Germany. This joint production of Bang on a Can composers Michael Gordon, Julia Wolf & David Lang, German new music ensemble musikFabrik, and Ridge Theater, received its U.S. premiere in November 2005 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM).

Trio Mediæval made its U.S. debut in June 2003, performing two sold-out concerts at New Haven's International Festival of Arts and Ideas. Their first U.S. tour followed in February 2004 with concerts in Boston, Chicago, New York, and Washington D.C.'s National Cathedral. Their return in 2004-05 brought them back to New York, as well as to San Francisco Performances, Spivey Hall, universities of Michigan and Vermont, and a taping for NPR's St. Paul Sunday.

Trio Mediæval has performed throughout Europe, giving concerts and radio broadcasts in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the U.K in such venues as the Oslo Concert House, the Vienna Konzerthaus, and Wigmore Hall.

Trio Mediæval's first CD on ECM Records, Words of the Angel, immediately charted on Billboard's Top 10 Bestsellers list and was the April 2002 Stereophile “Recording of the Month.” The second recording, Soir, dit-elle (2004), features Leonel Power's Missa Alma Redemptoris Mater along side works by Gavin Bryars, Andrew Smith and Ivan Moody, and met with similar critical and commercial success.

TRIO MEDIÆVAL

ANNA MARIA FRIMAN
Born in Gothenburg, Sweden, Anna Maria Friman studied with Thorbjørn Lindhjem at the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo and with Linda Hirst at Trinity College of Music in London; she is currently doing a PhD at the University of York, where she is researching the modern performance of medieval music. She also teaches singing and coaches vocal ensembles at the University. In Europe Anna has given workshops in the U.K, Sweden, Latvia and Finland. Her work in the USA has included coaching and recording with the Girl Choristers of Washington National Cathedral. Anna's solo engagements include performances with Gavin Bryars Ensemble, Red Byrd, The Norwegian Soloists' Choir, NYYD Ensemble, Latvian Radio Choir, Collegium Vocale Gent and Ricercar Consort. Anna has been a jury member at the vocal ensemble competition at the Tampere International Choral Festival, Finland, since 2001.

LINN ANDREA FUGLSETH
Linn Andrea Fuglseth was born in Sandefjord, Norway. She completed her Higher Diploma in singing at the Norwegian Academy of Music in 1997, specializing in baroque interpretation, and writing a dissertation on Restoration Mad Songs. In 1994-95 she studied at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, receiving a diploma in Advanced Solo Studies in Early Music. She has studied singing with Marit Isene, Barbro Marklund, Emma Kirkby and Mary Nichols. Linn Andrea has been soloist with, amongst others, the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, The Norwegian Baroque Orchestra and The Norwegian Soloists' Choir. Linn Andrea founded Trio Mediæval in October 1997. In addition to singing, she conducts a children's choir in Oslo and writes arrangements of Norwegian folksongs for the Trio.

Torunn ØSTREM OSSUM
Torunn Østrem Ossum was born in Namsos, Norway. She was educated at the College of Early Childhood Education in Oslo, specializing in music and drama. Torunn studied singing with Svein Bjørkøy at Rønningen County College in Oslo. She has wide experience as an ensemble singer and has performed with groups such as The Norwegian Soloists' Choir, Nordic Voices, Con Spirito and Grex Vocalis conducted by Carl Høgset, where she also sings as a soloist. Torunn has been working as a vocal coach for the junior theatre group 'Bærmuda mini'. Her experience working with children has been a great advantage for the trio's work touring throughout Norway giving school concerts, engaged by the Norwegian Concert Institute.

Text and Translation

KYRIE Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Et in terra pax Hominibus bonæ Laudamus te; benedicimus te; adoramus te; glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Domine Deus, Rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domini Fili unigenite Jesu Christe. O Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Qui sedes ad dextram Patris, miserere nobis. Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe. Cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.

GLORIA Ordinary Mass text Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory be to God in the highest. And on Earth peace To men of good will We praise Thee; we bless Thee; we worship Thee; we glorify Thee. We give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory. O Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten son. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou alone art holy, thou alone art the Lord, thou alone art the most high, Jesus Christ. Together with the Holy Ghost in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

MAGDALENA DEGNA DA LAUDARE Mary Magdalene, worthy of praise

Magdalena degna de laudare Mary Magdalene, worthy of praise,
Sempre degge Dio per noi pregare. Deign plead with the Lord for us always.

Ben e degna d'essare laudata, Worthy of praise indeed, is she
Ke for peccatrice nominata; who was once called a sinner;
Per servire fo ben meritata; her merits made her worthy of
Jesu Christo voise sequitare serving the Lord,

Magdalena… Mary Magdalene…

Lo suo peccato pianse cum dolore She wept bitterly over her sins
E del mondo volse uscire d'errore And wanted to give up the erring ways of the world;
Et a Christo cum verace amore Out of true love of Christ
In suoi mani si volse commendare. She put herself in His hands.

Magdalena… Mary Magdalene…

A li piei Christo s'imchinoe She threw herself at Christ's feet,
Et molto dolcemente li bascione; And kissed them most sweetly,
Di lagrime tutti li bagnoe, And wet them with her tears
Colli capelli presele aschiugare. And wiped them with her hair.

Magdalena… Mary Magdalene…


BEATA VISCERA The blessed flesh

Beata viscera The blessed flesh
Marie virginis, Of the virgin Mary,
cuius ad ubera To whose fruitfulness was entrusted
rex nominis; The king of mighty name
veste sub altera Beneath another cloak
vim celans numinis, Hiding the power of his spirit,
dictavit federa Has enriched the conjuction
Dei et hominis. Of God and man.

O mira novitas O new wonder,
et novum gaudium, A new joy,
matris integrita The mother's chastity prevails
post puerperium. After child-birth!

Populus gentium The Gentile people
sedens in tenebris Seated in darkness
surgit ad gaudium Have arisen to the joys
partus tam celebris: Of a birth so renowned.
Iudea tedium Judea in darkness
Fovet in latebris, Cherishes her weariness,
cor ferens conscium Her heart bearing the knowledge
delicti funebris. Of her impending doom.

O mira... O new wonder...

Solem, quem libere, The vision cannot bear to look,
Dum purus oritur However boldly, at the sun
in aura cernere When it uncovered arises
visus non patitur, Into the heavens;
cernat a latere But the womb of the child-bearer,
dum repercutitur, By which it is wholly covered,
alvus puerpere, Can gaze unimpaired
qua totus clauditur. When from the side it is reflected.

O mira... O new wonder…


CREDO Ordinary Mass text

Credo in unum Deum. I believe in one God,
Patrem omnipotentem, the Father almighty,
factorem caeli et terrae, Maker of heaven and Earth,
visibilium omnium et invisibilium. and of all things visible and invisible.
Et in unum Dominum And in one Lord,
Jesum Christum, Jesus Christ,
Filium Dei unigenitum, Only begotten Son of God,
Et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Begotten of his Father before all worlds.
Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, God of God, light of light,
Deum verum de Deo vero. Very God of very God.
Genitum, non factum, Begotten, not made,
consubstantialem Patri: Being of one substance with the Father:
per quem omnia facta sunt. By whom all things were made.
Qui propter nostram salutem Who for us men and for our salvation
descendit de caelis. came down from heaven.
Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost
ex Maria Virgine: of the Virgin Mary:
Et homo factus est. And was made man.
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato: And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate:
passus, et sepultus est. suffered, and was buried.
Et resurrexit tertia die, And the third day He rose again
secundum scripturas. according to the scriptures.
Et ascendit in caelum: And ascended into heaven,
sedet ad dexteram Patris. and sitteth at the right hand of the Father.
Et iterum venturus est And He shall come again
cum gloria judicare vivos et mortuos: with glory to judge the living and the dead:
Cujus regni non erit finis. His kingdom shall have no end.
Et in Spiritum sanctum Dominum, And [I believe in] the Holy Ghost, Lord
et vivificantem: and giver of life:
Qui ex Patre, Filioque procedit. Who proceedeth from the Father and Son.
Qui cum Patre, et Filio simul adoratur, Who with the Father and Son
et conglorificatur: together is worshipped and glorified.
Qui locutus est per Prophetas. Who spake by the Prophets.
Et unum, sanctum, catholicam And [I believe in] one holy catholic
et apostolicam Ecclesiam. and apostolic church.
Confiteor unum baptisma I acknowledge one baptism
in remissionem peccatorum. for the remission of sins.
Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum And I look for the resurrection of the dead
Et vitam venturi saeculi. And the life of the world to come.
Amen. Amen.

BENEDICTI E LLAUDATI Blessed and Praised

Benedicti e llaudati sempre siate a tutte l'ore, Sacred and blessed apostles who serve our Lord
sancti apostoli beati servi del nostro segnore. blessed and praised shall you be at every hour.

Sancti apostoli, voi laudamo Holy apostles, we praise you
de bon core nocte et dia, in the night and in the daytime
et a voi raccomandamo and we put our trust
tutta nostra compagnia. in you.

Benedicti... Sacred...

Manteneten' en tal via Continue to make that we
ke potiam perseverare may perservere
a servire ed a laudare to serve and praise
Cristo nostro redemptore. Christ our saviour.

Benedicti... Sacred...

Voi chiamam per avocati We call upon you,
nocte e dì ogni stascione, glorious apostles,
apostoli glorificati to guard us night and day
pieni di consolatione. that we may be filled with strength.

Benedicti... Sacred...


VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS Come, creator spirit

Veni creator spiritus, Come, creator spirit,
spiritus recreator, Spirit restorer,
tu dans, datus celitus, Thou giving, thou art heavenly given,
tu donum to donator, Thou the gift, thou the giver,
tu rex, tu digitus, Thou the king, thou the finger (of authority),
alens et alitus, Thou nourishing art the nourished,
spirans et spiritus, Thou the breathing and the breath,
spiratus et spirator. Thou the breath and the breath-giver.

Mentes tuorum visita, Visit the souls of thy faithful,
mentium visitator, Visitor of souls,
visitando inhabita, And by visiting dwell within,
visorum habitator, Inhabitant of the visited,
tu fons, tu rivolus, Thou the fount, thou the stream,
fruttex et surculus, Living trunk and sprout,
doctor discipulus, Teacher, pupil,
servorum coronator. Crowner of slaves.

Tu septi formis gratiae Thou of sevenfold grace,
Dans septiforme donum, Granting a sevenfold gift,
vurtutis septipharie, A gift of sevenfold virtue,
septem petetionum, Of the seven petitions;
tu nix non defluens, Thou the snow not melting,
ignis non destruens, The fire not destroying,
pugil non metuens, The fighter not fearing,
propinator sermonum. The giver of words of wisdom.

Tu gratis data gratia, Thou art grace freely given,
et tu faciens gratos, And thou makest people grateful,
tu primo purges vitia, For thou at first didst purge our sins,
post conservas purgatos, And then thou didst save the purged;
absolve debita, Absolve our merits,
extolle merita, By thy wonted virtue
virtute solita salvans Saving those
predestinatos. predestined.

Ergo accende sensibus tu te Therefore, inflame thyself in our senses,
lumen et flamen, Thou, light and spirit,
tu te inspira cordibus, Thou, breathe thyself into our hearts,
qui es vite spiramen, Thou who art the spirit,
tu sol, tu radius, Thou who art the sun, the sun's ray,
mittens et nuntius, The sender and the messenger,
persona tercius, salva nos. The third person, save us,
Amen, amen. Amen, amen!


SANCTUS Ordinary Mass text

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Holy, Holy, Holy,
Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Lord God of Hosts.
Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Heaven and Earth are full of Thy glory.
Osanna in excelsis. Hosanna in the highest.


AVE REGINA GLORIOSA Hail, glorious queen

Ave, regina gloriosa, Hail, glorious queen,
plena d'ogne consolança. full of all consolation.

Ave, pulcra margarita, Hail, beautiful pearl,
splendida luce clarita; clear shining light;
fresca rosa et aulorita, fresh rose and fragrance,
nostro gaudio et alegrança. our joy and delight.

Ave, regina gloriosa, Hail, glorious queen,
plena d'ogne consolança. full of all consolation.

Ave, regina adorata, Hail, adored queen,
virgene madre beata; blessed virgin mother;
poi ke fosti salutata, since you received your salutation
madre se' de gran pietança. you have been our mother of great holiness.

Ave, regina gloriosa, Hail, glorious queen,
plena d'ogne consolança. full of all consolation.

Ave, porto de salute; Hail, gateway of salvation;
ki ben t'ama tu l'aiute; you help whoever loves you well;
guardane di far cadute, save him from falling into error,
tràici for de dubitança. and keep us free from doubting thoughts.

Ave, regina gloriosa, Hail, glorious queen,
plena d'ogne consolança. full of all consolation.


DUM SIGILLUM When the seal

Dum sigillum summi patris When the seal of the highest father
signatum divinitus, Became manifest, Divinity appeared;
in sigillo summi matris In the seal of the highest mother
signatur humanitus. Was displayed Humanity;
Nec sigillum castitatis Nor was chastity's seal
in puella frangitur; In the maid broken,
nec sigillum deitatis Nor did Divinity's seal
detrimentum patitur. Suffer any harm.

Dum humanum osculatur When Divinity kissed
naturam divinitas, Human nature,
ex contactu fecundatur By this touch fruitful made
intacta virginitas. Was untouched virginity;
Mira virus osculandi, O wondrous kiss of virtue!
miranda sunt oscula, Much to be wondered at are the kisses
que dant vires fecundandi Which gave power to make a fruitful
sine carnis copula. Without conjunction of flesh.


AGNUS DEI Ordinary Mass text

Agnus Dei, Lamb of God,
Qui tollis peccata mundi, Thou that takest away the sins of the world,
miserere nobis. have mercy upon us.

Agnus Dei, Lamb of God,
Qui tollis peccata mundi, Thou that takest away the sins of the world,
dona nobis pacem. grant us peace.


OI ME LASSO Alas, I am weary

Oi me lasso Alas, I am weary,
E freddo lo mio core My heart is cold;
Ke non sospiro Have I no sighs left
Tanto per amore For such great love,
Ke tu non morisse? To stop you from dying?

Morire dovaresti, It is you, my soul, that should have died,
Falso sconoscente, False, ungrateful,
Villano, cieco, pigro Boorish, blind, lazy
E negligente, and careless;
Ke per amor non vivi fervente Who even for such love will not live ardently,
Si ke languisce. So that you wither away.

Oi me lasso… Alas, I am weary...

Perire potaresti, You could have died, my soul,
Si non se'defeso If you had not been defended
Dal grande amor Jesu By the great love of Jesus,
Da cui se'ateso: Who waits for you;
Volte abracciare e sta en croce desteso He wants to embrace you, and is stretched out on the cross,
E parturisce. And is in great travail.

Oi me lasso… Alas, I am weary...

Transmotisci, cuore Reform yourself, my heart,
E va'gridando Go out shouting,
E pure amore amorando, And loving with pure love;
Ke no l'ai puramente amato Because you have not loved him purely,
Va dolorando He goes grieving,
E parturisce. And is in great travail.

Oi me lasso… Alas, I am weary...


ITE MISSA EST [Dismissal]

[3 texts sung simultaneously]

1. Deo gratias 1. Thanks be to God.

2. Se grasse n'est à mon maintien contraire 2. If grace is not opposed to maintaining me
et vraie amours garnie de désir and true love adorned with the desire
de plaisamment servir pour souscours faire to serve pleasantly to succour her,
bien me devist madame retenir. to do good she must retain me.
Mès tant ne puis pryer ne requerre Nonetheless, as much as I can, I do not ask
sa grant valour que je li puisse plaire her great worth that I may please her;
ce m'est avis or m'en estuet retraire That is my mind. Or, if I cannot please her
du tout en tout et mendre I shall withdraw and falsely say I do not love her.
poursuivi u lessier en boine amour convenir To pursue her or to leave her in good love
avoech francise et pite de bonnaire with honesty and pity of happiness,
qui pooiront de tous cuers adouchir. that can sweeten all hearts.

3. Cum venerint miseri de gentes ad ostium 3. When the degenerate poor come to your door,
vestrum succurite continuo domini potentes, succour them at once for God, you powerful one,
Vel ad minus clamantes: dicite ne perat quod or assist those who call: do not tell them “ Perish”,
quidam velentes sibi forsan conferment cedite. for they might bring you something strong in its own right.