Ne reminiscaris Domine

- Tim Attride

PDF Sample

Use: Lent, General
Required Resources: SAB choir
Optional Resources: Bass soloist
Language: Latin, English

According to Pope Innocent III (early 13th century), the Seven Penitential Psalms are to be prayed during the days of Lent, particularly on Fridays (or one could pray one Psalm on each of the 7 Fridays of Lent). One kneels when praying these Psalms, beginning and ending with a short antiphon (Ne reminiscaris Domine), and reciting a Gloria Patri in between. These psalms are:

1. Psalm 6: O Lord, reprove me not in Thine indignation
2. Psalm 32: Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven
3. Psalm 38: O Lord, in Thine anger, rebuke me not
4. Psalm 51: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy
5. Psalm 102: O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto Thee
6. Psalm 130: Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord
7. Psalm 143: Hear, O Lord, my prayer: give ear to my supplication in thy truth

Composer Tim Attride here sets the antiphon that accompanies the praying of these Psalms. It is rendered first in Latin, using chant (in modern notation). This is followed by an SAB version, with English text from the Book of Common Prayer.

This antiphon is followed by a popular Lenten text, Parce Domine, set in similar fashion: Latin chant, then English SAB motet.

Here are the Latin and English texts:

(chant) Ne reminiscaris Domine delicta nostra,
vel parentum nostrorum:
ne que vindictam sumas de peccatis nostris.

(SAB) Remember not, O Lord, our offenses,
nor the offenses of our forefathers;
neither take thou vengeance of our sins.

(chant) Parce Domine, populo tuo
quem prætioso sanguine tuo redemisti,
ne in æternum irascaris nobis.

(SAB) Spare us, good Lord,
spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood,
and be not angry with us for ever. Amen.

The SAB texture of this piece, combined with the alternation between chant with Latin text and polyphony with English text, make this an accessible and wonderfully appropriate anthem for your choir this Lent!