Praeter rerum seriem (Josquin des Prez)
Music files
- CPDL #6371: Finale-2000.
- Editor: Sabine Cassola (added 2004-01-05). Score information: A4, 9 pages, 228 kbytes Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: Praeter rerum seriem
Composer: Josquin Des Prez
Number of voices: 6vv Voicing: ATTTBB
Genre: Sacred, Motets
Language: Latin
Instruments: none, a cappella
Published:
Description:
External websites:
Text and translations
Latin text
Praeter rerum seriem
parit deum hominem
virgo mater.
Nec vir tangit virginem
nec prolis originem
novit pater.
Virtus sancti spiritus
opus illud coelitus
operatur.
Initus et exitus
partus tui penitus
quis scrutatur?
Dei providentia
quae disponit omnia
tam suave.
Tua puerperia
transfer in mysteria,
mater ave.
English translation
This is no normal scheme of things:
God and man is born of a virgin mother.
She has known no man;
the child's origin is unknown to the father.
By the Holy Spirit's power
this heavenly work has been brought about.
The beginning and end of your giving birth
who can really know?
By God's grace, which orders all things so smoothly,
your childbearing confronts us with a mystery.
Hail, Mother.
(translation by Mick Swithinbank)