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J. David Moore
Fresh Ayre Music (J. David Moore)
Jesu Dulcis Memoria
A meditative anthem for bass soloist, mixed choir, and piano on a prayer by St. Bernard of Clairvaux.
SATB, Bass solo, piano
The initial melodic seed for this piece was written by Sarah Kemper, the sister of a choir member of mine, who was inspired by the first two verses of the Latin prayer by the 12th-century French abbott St.Bernard of Clairvaux. She envisioned a monk chanting the prayer to himself during private devotions; the music honors that image by the inclusion of a bass soloist. The choir also sings the most familiar English translation of the verses (“Jesus, the Very Thought Of Thee”) during the middle portion of the anthem.
Text
Jesu dulcis memoria
dans vera cordi gaudia:
sed super mel et omnia
ejus dulcis praesentia.
Nil canitur suavius,
nil auditur jucundius,
nil cogitatur dulcius,
quam Jesus Dei Filius.
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy Presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus’ Name,
The Savior of mankind.
– St. Bernard of Clairvaux
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