I have been writing a little mediaeval sounding tune, singing in thirds and fourths in harmony with single notes on the ukulele.
I wanted to put some simple Latin to it, so I chose the 'Nunc Dimittis' but I'm most disappointed with the last line, 'gentium, et gloriam plebis tuae Israel' which makes a distinction between the gentiles and the people of Israel so I will cut those words out.
As a poet whose first collection will contain material written about certain stories from the Middle East about the ongoing conflict and occupation I feel that I can't afford to be lax in regards to this kind of expression.
At the same time I recognise the great emotional power in liturgial lyric. I note that I am repeatedly drawn to Latin as a language for singing.
Ricky Martin is a good Latin artist, i believe, Jude - and Gloria Hunniford, I mean Estefan. But I'm not convinced. Nil desperandum!
ReplyDeletePS: Mission accomplished. (Of COURSE IT is...!!)
ReplyDeleteHmm, maybe Gaudeamus Igitur ? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaudeamus_igitur)
ReplyDeleteOh there's a brilliant Gaudeamus Igitur I heard, who did it? Fantastic boy choir version.
ReplyDeleteOf coures there's the reference in Tom Lehrer's 'Bright College Days' I remember. Wikipedia have it too, 'Turn on the spigot, pour the beer and swig it, and gaudeamus igit-ur."' My dad was a massive TL fan.