Illumine le tenebre (SSAATTBB)--CHORAL
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Illumina le tenebre (Illuminate the darkness)
St. Francis of Assisi’s PRAYER BEFORE THE CRUCIFIX
English TRANSLATION:
Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me true faith, certain hope and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out your holy and true command. Amen.
NOTES:
One year ago, I had the privilege of participating in the Leadership Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome (2011) sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Franciscan Healthcare, and Viterbo University. I carried with me, not only the responsibility of bringing back a hint of Francis’ lived experience to my students, but the desire to compose something wholly Franciscan.
Copying the prayer in at least six different languages, I tucked it away in my travel books, digging it out the following summer (2012). The opening phrases in the piece came easily enough (“Altissimo, glorioso Dio”), but I stumbled through a handful of ideas before coming up with the mantra (“illumina le tenebre…”). It made sense that Francis would joyfully address God singing forte (“Altissimo” and “Signore”), while quietly chanting his humble prayers for faith, hope, charity, and knowledge.
The friendship between Francis and Clare can’t be missed in the intermingling of SATB voices, as well as in the setting of “che faccia lo tuo santo e verace comadamento” (“that I may carry out your holy and true command”). The phrase is sung only once by the women before the final return of the “illumina” chant (which is repeated throughout by the men). Maybe I chanced on weaving some of Clare’s courage with Francis’ persistence into “Illumina le tenebre,” all while trying to compose something wholly Franciscan. ---Mary Ellen Haupert, October 2012
St. Francis of Assisi’s PRAYER BEFORE THE CRUCIFIX
English TRANSLATION:
Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me true faith, certain hope and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out your holy and true command. Amen.
NOTES:
One year ago, I had the privilege of participating in the Leadership Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome (2011) sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Franciscan Healthcare, and Viterbo University. I carried with me, not only the responsibility of bringing back a hint of Francis’ lived experience to my students, but the desire to compose something wholly Franciscan.
Copying the prayer in at least six different languages, I tucked it away in my travel books, digging it out the following summer (2012). The opening phrases in the piece came easily enough (“Altissimo, glorioso Dio”), but I stumbled through a handful of ideas before coming up with the mantra (“illumina le tenebre…”). It made sense that Francis would joyfully address God singing forte (“Altissimo” and “Signore”), while quietly chanting his humble prayers for faith, hope, charity, and knowledge.
The friendship between Francis and Clare can’t be missed in the intermingling of SATB voices, as well as in the setting of “che faccia lo tuo santo e verace comadamento” (“that I may carry out your holy and true command”). The phrase is sung only once by the women before the final return of the “illumina” chant (which is repeated throughout by the men). Maybe I chanced on weaving some of Clare’s courage with Francis’ persistence into “Illumina le tenebre,” all while trying to compose something wholly Franciscan. ---Mary Ellen Haupert, October 2012
