A few weeks ago I found myself in the kitchen preparing breakfast, when the music filling the room shifted from being mere background noise to something more distinct. My focus left the egg in my pan as I was fixed on the radio.
To my relief, I found the name and composer of the tune in time for it to disappear from me and slip away into the rest of the radio channel’s history.
Ave Verum Corpus is an Eucharistic chant. It dates from the 14th century and has been attributed to Pope Innocent IV. During the Middle Ages it was sung in church at the elevation of the sacramental bread, and has also been set to music by various composers (one of them being Mozart- I’ll get back to that another time).
This version is written by Karl Jenkins, performed by Bryn Terfel, Tamara Mumford, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square and Mack Wilberg.
Upon hearing this piece, I immediately wanted you to hear it, my dear friend J. You may recall I told you last month that I had discovered a new song that I was eager to share with you. I have been away, as you know, and haven’t had the time to sit down and write this post – until now. So here it is, and I hope it fills you with as much calmness and serenity as it does to me, and I hope you melt into the melody as I do. We’ll meet there. All the love, your friend.
Latin
Ave verum corpus, natum
de Maria Virgine,
vere passum, immolatum
in cruce pro homine
cuius latus perforatum
fluxit aqua et sanguine:
esto nobis praegustatum
in mortis examine.
O Iesu dulcis, O Iesu pie,
O Iesu, fili Mariae.
Miserere mei. Amen.
English
Hail, true Body, born
of the Virgin Mary,
having truly suffered, sacrificed
on the cross for mankind,
from whose pierced side
water and blood flowed:
Be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet]
in the trial of death!
O sweet Jesus, O holy Jesus,
O Jesus, son of Mary,
have mercy on me. Amen.
Ps. I don’t know if the lyrics are necessarily meaningful to you, but I decided to leave them in for context’s sake. I’m not religious myself, but I appreciate the traditions. Falling in love with the music, I think it is nice to know what the actual texts say as well. I thought you may feel the same. Surely the composer must’ve felt strongly about it, for it to be translated into such music. The music evokes strong feelings in me as well, though for different reasons of course. I find that fascinating.
Kovu's music 