Description
Versa est in luctum was composed by Alonso Lobo for the funeral of King Philip II of Spain in 1598. The liturgical tradition of the time dictated that a sermon should be preached at the end of the Requiem Mass before administering the last rites. In some instances a motet was sung between the oration and the absolution: Lobo’s Versa est in luctum is such a piece. The text vividly describes heavenly harps, organs and voices in lyrical mourning. A six-voice texture is maintained almost throughout, capturing the text’s anguish in descending melodic lines and wonderfully dark harmonic colours.
© Owain Park 2020
Versa est in luctum cithara mea,
et organum meum in vocem flentium.
Parce mihi, Domine,
nihil enim sunt dies mei.
My harp is turned to mourning
and my organ into the voice of those that weep.
Spare me, Lord,
for my days are nothing.
Job 30: 31 & 7: 16 (Office for the Dead)
