Dum transisset sabbatum (Robert Johnson)

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• CPDL #15931: Sibelius 5

Editor: Jonathan Goodliffe (submitted 2008-02-08).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 59 kbytes   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The value of notes is halved. Corrected version uploaded 2008-03-02. Thanks to Mick Swithinbank for corrections to and suggestions on the first version.

General Information

Title: Dum transisset Sabbatum
Composer: Robert Johnson

Number of voices: 5vv Voicing: SATBB
Genre: Sacred, Motet

Language: Latin
Instruments: a cappella
Published: 1776

Description: From a manuscript in the library of Christ Church College Oxford. The soprano and alto parts are attributed in the manuscript to “Mr Johnson”. The baritone part is attributed to “Tallis alias Johnson”. In the manuscript this part is written in plainchant notation. Slurs in this edition represent ligatures in the original plainchant. The work was published by Charles Burney in his “General History of Music” in 1776 with many changes to reduce dissonances and adapt the work to 18th Century taste.

In a complete performance, the plainsong intonation and entire polyphony were probably intended to be sung first. Then the plainsong verse Et valde mane; Then the polyphony from Ut venientes to the end. Then the plainsong Gloria patri. Finally the polyphonic Alleluia.

In the original manuscript “Alleluia” is written out “Al-le-lui-a”.

There are a number of differences in published versions of (i) the plainsong intonation, (ii) the Et valde mane and (iii) the Gloria patri sections. These sections are not included in the manuscript source for this edition of the Johnson five part setting.

The three last notes in the intonation, usually sung “sse – e - et”, are sometimes replaced by a single long note in, for instance, published editions of Tallis’ 5 part setting of “Dum Transisset”.

There are a variety of different interpretations of the Et valde mane and the Gloria patri plainsong sections. Examples are included in the CPDL edition of the Taverner setting by Rupert Preston Bell, the edition of the Tallis setting by JJ Hutchings on Sibelius Music, the edition of the same Tallis setting by Richard Abram, published in “Musical Times”, February 1979, and the performance on CD of the Johnson four and five part settings by Cappella Nova (directed by Alan Tavener).

External websites:

Original text and translations

Bible, Mark chapter 16 verse 1

Latin text

Dum transisset Sab[b]atum, Maria Magdalene et Maria Jacobi et Salome emerunt aromata ut venientes ungerent Jesum.

Alleluia.

Et valde mane, prima sabbatorum, veniunt ad monumentum, orto iam sole.

Gloria patri, et filio et spiritui sancto.

English translation

And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. Alleluia.

And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they come to the sepulchre, the sun being now risen.

Glory to the father and to the son and to the holy ghost.