CCLXVIII. BIBER, Heinrich Ignaz Franz: Motet "Plaudite tympana"

CCLXVIII. BIBER, Heinrich Ignaz Franz (1644-1704)

Motet "Plaudite tympana"
Musica Antiqua Köln
(Reinhard Goebel, cond.)
Gabrieli Consort & Players
(Paul McCreesh, cond.)
(5:52)

1682 was the 1100th anniversary of Salzburg as the center of Christianity. The nobility planned a grand celebration. The Missa Salisburgenis was to be the music provided for the occasion. Biber's authorship was long in question -- the manuscript was not discovered until the 1870s in the home of a greengrocer in Salzburg. Apparently, it was rescued just in time to prevent it from being used to wrap vegetables.

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Now universally accepted to have been composed by Biber, the Mass is perhaps one of the best examples of what is termed the Colossal Baroque.

The motet featured here was an extension of the Mass performance, featuring the same gigantic forces:

Allow me to make it readable:

Sound the drums,
peal the bells,
sing together, you faithful,
let your voices proclaim
with chorus and rejoicing
the greatest shepherd.
Acclaim your fatherland,
celebrate (Saint) Rupert.

This blessed day is thrice delightful,
a day full of pleasures
in which we celebrate Rupert,
in which we honour our patron,
a most happy day.
Be joyful, O happy fatherland,
clap, O happy race,
the noble mind of Rupert
triumphs above the stars;
among the thousand of angels
in the applause of the blessed
triumphs his noble mind.
Live, Salzburg, be joyful,
thrice applaud your great father
with drums and voices,
with lutes and clapping.
Live, Salzburg, be joyful,
thrice applaud your great father,
celebrate Rupert,
rejoice in the shepherd.