Bestario del Cristo

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Program: #04-22   Air Date: May 24, 2004

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NOTE: The ensemble Alia Musica looks at the lively Medieval imagination with 13th century music that uses animals as symbolic of Christ and the church.

Preservation of this program is made possible by a generous grant in honor of John WL Russell.

Centering of the Tetramorph, the Lion, Eagle, Bull and Man which are used in the earliest sacred art to represent the Evangelists (from Revelation and the symbols for the four fixed astrological signs), other pieces reflect on: sheep and goats (representing the elect and the damned), the Lamb of God, the dragon, the worm (emblematic of divine humility), the lion (strength of God), the fly (corruption and lust), the Dove of God, the pelican (which legendarily gave it's heart's blood for it's children), the moth (destructive idleness), the viper, and the turtledove (meekness and purity). All pieces (except where noted) are anonymous.

This recording is on the Harmonia Mundi label, and is CD HMU 987033.

  • Salve, sancte Christi parens ("Hail, holy mother of Christ").
  • Homo que vigeas/[Ex gaudebit] ("Do not leave us orphans/Man, be watchful").
  • Iocundare, plebs fidelis ("Rejoice, faithful people").
  • Novus miles sequitur ("The new soldier follows the path of the new king").
  • Columbe simplicitas ("The dove's simplicity").
  • Kyrie, fons bonitatis ("Lord, fount of beauty").
  • Deus, creator omnium ("God, creator of all things").
  • Eterni numinis ("Mother & daughter of the eternal god-head").
  • Crucifigat omnes ("Another cross or the Lord").
  • Qui servare puberem/[Ne] ("The princes, seated around, spoke against me").
  • Alpha, bovi, et leoni/[Domino] ("To the Alpha, the bull & the lion").
  • THIBAUT de NAVARRE: Deus est comme li pelican ("God is like the pelican").
  • Ne sedeas/[Et temerunt] ("The Lord rose again/Do not remain idle")
  • Splendidus regis/Leo, bos et aquila ("Brilliant throne of the king / Lion, bull, and majestic eagle").

CD Info

CD HMU 987033

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