Precatio Terrae: A Prayer to Earth music by Nora Farley

The University of Michigan Chamber Choir, conducted by Dr. Eugene Rogers performs "Precatio Terrae: A Prayer to Earth" by Nora Farley. This piece is sung in Classical Latin.

Dea sancta Tellus, rerum naturae parens,
quae cuncta generas et regeneras indidem,
quod sola praestas gentibus vitalia,
caeli ac maris diva arbitra rerumque omnium,
per quam silet natura et somnos concipit,
itemque lucem reparas et noctem fugas.
Tu Ditis umbras tegis et immensum chaos
ventosque et imbres tempestatesque attines
et, cum libet, dimittis et misces freta
fugasque soles et procellas concitas,
itemque, cum vis, hilarem promittis diem.
Tu alimenta vitae tribuis perpetua fide,
et, cum recesserit anima, in te refugimus:
ita, quicquid tribuis, in te cuncta recidunt.
Merito vocaris Magna tu Mater deum,
pietate quia vicisti divom numina;
tuque illa vera es gentium et divom parens,
sine qua nil maturatur nec nasci potest:
tu es Magna tuque divom regina es, dea.

[Goddess revered, O Earth, of all nature mother,
engendering and re-engendering all things from the same womb,
because you alone supply each species with living force,
divine controller of sky and sea and of all things,
through you, nature is hushed and lays hold on sleep,
and likewise you renew the day and banish night.
You cover Pluto's shades and chaos immeasurable:
winds, rains, and tempests you detain,
and, at your will, let loose, and so convulse the sea,
banishing sunshine, stirring gales to fury,
and likewise, when you wish, you speed forth the joyous day.
You bestow life's nourishment with never-failing faithfulness,
and, when our breath has gone, in you we find our refuge:
so, whatsoever you bestow all falls back to you.
Deservedly you are called Mighty Mother of gods,
since in dutiful service you surpass the divinities of heaven,
and you are that true parent of living species and of gods,
without which nothing is ripened or can be born.
You are the Mighty one, and you are queen of divinities, O goddess.]

Text: Anonymous, 1st Century C.E.
Translation: J. Wight Duff and Arnold M. Duff (adapted by Nora Farley)
Music: Nora Farley
Conductor: Dr. Eugene Rogers
Choir: University of Michigan Chamber Choir