Alas for you, Babylon and Syria | Alas for you, Babylon and Syria

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by Bible or other Sacred Texts

Translation © by Laura Prichard

Vae tibi, Babylon et Syria

Language: Latin

Our translations: ENG

Vae tibi, Babylon et Syria,
praecingite vos saccis et cilicio,
et plangite filios vestros, et dolete,
quia appropinquavit perditio vestra.

Note provided by Laura Prichard: This short apocalyptic motet by a prominent Renaissance composer from the Low Countries concerns the annihilation of cities hostile to the Jews. After an aggressive opening, the second line is extended for more than two minutes of music. The third line of text is more subdued, as the bass line slows and the other voices drop through a full octave, exhausted and despairing.

Text Authorship:

by Bible or other Sacred Texts , 2 Ezra 16 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

by Jacobus Clemens non Papa (1510 - c1555), "Vae tibi, Babylon et Syria" [ chorus ], motet [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "Alas for you, Babylon and Syria", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Laura Prichard [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2022-02-18
Line count: 4
Word count: 20

Alas for you, Babylon and Syria

Language: English after the Latin

Alas for you, Babylon and Syria,
adorn yourself in garments of hair and sackcloth,
and weep for your children, and suffer,
for your destruction is drawing near.

Text Authorship:

Translation from Latin to English copyright © 2022 by Laura Prichard, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in Latin by Bible or other Sacred Texts , 2 Ezra 16
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2022-02-18
Line count: 4
Word count: 27