Britten - A Hymn to the Virgin | The Marian Consort

Benjamin Britten - A Hymn to the Virgin
Performed by The Marian Consort, directed by Rory McCleery

LYRICS
Of one that is so fair and bright,
velut maris stella, (like a star of the sea)
Brighter than the day is light,
parens et puella. (mother and maiden)
I cry to thee, thou see to me,
Lady, pray thy Son for me, Tam pia, (such a virtuous one)
That I may come to thee. Maria! (Mary)

All this world was forlorn
Eva peccatrice, (through Eve, the sinner)
Till our Lord was y-born
de te genetrice. (of thee, the mother)
With ave it went away
darkest night, and comes the day salutis: (of salvation)
The well springeth out of thee virtutis. (of virtue)

Lady, flow'r of everything,
rosa sine spina, (rose without thorn)
Thou bare Jesu, heaven's King,
gratia divina: (by divine grace)
Of all that bear'st the prize,
Lady, queen of paradise, Electa: (chosen one)
Maid mild, mother es effecta. (you are made)

[pierre-oliviercombelles]

Depuis que j'ai l'ai entendue pour la première fois, il y a maintenant une cinquantaine d'années, cette œuvre musicale, œuvre de jeunesse* et de génie de Benjamin Britten, est l'une de celles que je préfère au monde. Elle est d'une beauté, d'une fraîcheur, d'une pureté virginales comme un lis blanc et d'un parfum suave comme lui: la plus belle offrande que l'on puisse faire à la Sainte Vierge Marie, Mère de Dieu.
* D'après un antiphonaire du Moyen-Âge.

[joesoy]

Thank you. A Merry Christmas to one and all from very sunny Tenerife.

[stlouisix]

😊Wonderful song in dedication to Mary❤😊❤

[janeeleanorlee]

Thank you for this exquisite and deeply expressive performance of one of my favourite pieces of choral music. I love how each voice has its own individual colour and yet the ensemble blends perfectly.

[mrwright]

Britten was only 16 years old when he composed this.

[fsmyth]

Why do you not list the singers names?