Ergo ne conticuit (Johannes Lupi)

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• (Posted 2025-09-06)  CPDL #86671:       

Editor: Bert Schreuder (submitted 2025-09-06).   Score information: A4, 11 pages, 383 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Note values halved, original pitch. At the end of the pdf there are some remarks about possible cross-relations in the piece, inspired by an article on the subject by Peter Urquhart.

• (Posted 2017-03-20)  CPDL #43682:     

Editor: Mick Swithinbank (submitted 2017-03-20).   Score information: A4, 20 pages, 133 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: At original pitch and with original note values. (The original clefs were C1 (replaced by C2 in one section), C3, C4 and F4.)

General Information

Title: Ergo ne conticuit
Composer: Johannes Lupi
Lyricist: Erasmus^{create page}

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: STTB
Genre: Sacred, Motet

Language: Latin
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1547 in Sacrarum cantionum, liber 3, no. 5
Description: A lament on the death of Ockeghem, which, curiously, Susato published more than 50 years after Ockeghem's death. A belated parallel work to Josquin's Nymphes des bois, therefore. However, it does not incorporate any funereal cantus firmus. Its attribution to Lupi has been disputed, one suggestion being that it was composed by Lupus Hellinck (1493/4-1541).

Original text and translations

Latin text (Text by Erasmus of Rotterdam) In Ioannem Okegi. Musicorum principem, Naenia. Ergone conticuit Vox illa quondam nobilis, Aurea vox Okegi ? Sic musicae extinctum decus ? Dic age, dic fidibus tristes, Appollo, naenias. Tu quoque, Calliope pullata cum sororibus, funde pias lachrymas, lugete, quotquot musicae dulce rapit studium virumque ferte laudibus. Artis Appollineae sacer ille foenix occidit. Quid facis, invida mors? Obmutuit vox aurea Okegi per sacra tecta sonans. Demulsit aures caelitum terrigenumque simul penitusque movit pectora. Quid facis, invida mors? Sat erat tibi promiscue tollere res hominum; Divina res est musica; numina cur violas?

English translation by Mick Swithinbank and Jamie Reid Baxter Threnody on the death of Johannes Ockeghem, prince of musicians. Has that once noble voice, then, fallen silent? The golden voice of Ockeghem? Is the glory of music now dead? Apollo, speak, react, tell forth on the lyre sad funeral songs. You likewise, Calliope, dressed in mourning weeds with your sisters, shed your devout tears. Mourn, all of you whom your zeal for sweet music transports, and bear the hero [on your shoulders] with your praises: the priest of Apollo's art, that great phoenix, is dead. What have you done, O hateful death? The golden voice of Ockeghem is mute, which used to echo through the sacred vaults. It soothed the ears and the inward breast of those in heaven and on earth alike. What have you done, O hateful death? It was already enough that you indiscriminately carry off things that are the concern of mortal men; [but] music is a thing divine: why do you violate the gods?

{{Translation|German| Epitaph für den höchst bedeutenden Musiker Johannes Ockeghem Ist sie nun also verstummt,

die Stimme, einstmals so berühmt,

Ockeghems Stimme aus Gold?

Starb so die Zierde der Musik?

Sing mit den Saiten, nun sing,

Apollo, Lieder unheilvoll.

Du auch, Kalliope, lass

mit Schwestern, schwarz im Trauerkleid,

zärtlichen Tränen den Lauf.

Nun trauert, all' die zur Musik

lieblicher Eifer entführt,

erhebt den Mann durch euer Lob.

Jener der Kunst des Apolls

geweihte Phoenix ist dahin.

Tod, was nur tust du aus Neid?

Es schweigt aus Gold die Stimme nun,

Ockeghems Stimme aus Gold,

zu beugen selbst den Fels imstand,

welche so oft durch den Fluss

von Melodien, mit Kunst gelenkt,

klingend durch heiliges Haus,

erfreute ihrer Hörer Ohr,

himmlischer, irdischer gleich,

und tief ins Herz sie hat bewegt.

Tod, was nur tust du aus Neid?

Schon dadurch ungerecht so sehr,

dass allen gleich du ja bist.

Wär dir's genug, ohn' Unterschied

menschliches Gut zu zerstör'n.

Doch ist Musik ein göttlich' Gut.

Warum quälst Götter du auch? |}