"Epithalame" - Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur; University Singers of Mizzou

R. Paul Crabb, conductor
Anthony Hernandez, accompanist
Graduate Teaching Assistants:
Brandon Brown, Nathan R. Lange, Daniel Shafer,
Clara E. Smith, Karen Zeferino


The final movement, Epithalame reflects the polyphonic, a capella style of Aleotti’s piece while splitting the choir into a rich 12 part texture. Lesur layers traditional Latin text that repeats itself throughout the piece and adds Hebrew scripture over it. The text speaks of a love that is binding, powerful, and unbreakable builds throughout the work's final climax in which all twelve voices sing different successions of the word “Alleluia” imitating the sound of church bells. Pairing these two pieces spanning a 400 year gap brings an array of emotions pertaining to the topic of love, each giving a different story that exemplifies one simple notion: humans cannot escape the raw power of love.


Veni sponsa Christi accipe coronam quam tibi Dominus praeparavit in aeternum. Alleluia.
Come then, bride of Christ, and receive the crown which the Lord has prepared in eternity. Alleluia.

Pose moi comme un sceau sur ton cœur, comme un sceau sur ton bras: Car l’amour est fort comme la mort.
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death.

La jalousie est dure comme l’enfer, une flamme de Yahvé!
Jealousy is cruel as the grave, a flame of Yahweh!

Les grandes eaux n’ont pu éteindre l’amour, les fleuves ne le submergeront pas!
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.
(Antiphon at Second Vespers, Song of Solomon)


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