Francisco Guerrero
Music for Vespers and the Requiem

Chapelle du Roi
Directed by Alistair Dixon

Francisco Guerrero was the most widely known and respected composer in Spain during the second half of the sixteenth century. In our time, he has been overshadowed by Morales, a generation older, and by Victoria, Guerrero's junior by some twenty years. If, now, we esteem Victoria as the supreme master of the era, it is partly because his works have long been published and widely performed. Guerrero's much more varied legacy of music is still awaiting complete publication; the majority of what has been printed in modern editions has come out only in the last twenty years.

This much loved composer died on November 8th, 1599, at the age of seventy-one, having served at the cathedral of Seville for most of his life. His influence was widespread in Spain, Portugal and the New World. For more than two centuries his works were copied and re-copied, adapted and imitated. Some of his finest motets were taken by his juniors and by much later successors as models for masses; his Magnificats became paradigms for a century after his passing.

Most modern attention, at least from performers, has been devoted to his exquisite motets and Marian antiphons, also to some of his masses. The programme offered in this recording by Chapelle du Roi concentrates on two other types of composition which are inseparably bound up with the traditional liturgical chants as practised in Spain. The forms and melodies of these, plainchant or mensural chant, their manner of recitation and repetition of the texts, completely control the musical outcome and determine the composer's overall structures and most of the formal detail. The chant melodies permeate the music at almost every moment. 

The Psalms for the Vespers of the Feast of All Saints (November 1st) begin with two, Dixit Dominus and Confitebor tibi, Domine, that Guerrero set intending alternate verses to be sung to simple polyphony incorporating the recitation tones of psalmody, the first to Tone I, the second to Tone VII. The choice of tones is dictated by the modes of the antiphons associated with the psalms on a particular Feast. The third psalm, Beatus vir, is here performed in chant only, to Tone VIII. The fourth, Laudate pueri Dominum, is sung with its even-numbered verses rendered in fabordón-a method in which simple chords and a cadence are adapted to the words, verse by verse, not unlike the Italian falsobordone or the later development of Anglican chant. This example is by Guerrero's younger friend Rodrigo Ceballos. It is based on Tone VIII but with a different termination (verse ending).

The last of the five psalms for All Saints at Vespers is Guerrero's shortest, again in Tone VIII. Its doxology, Gloria Patri..., swings into triple time, a lively ending. Indeed, Guerrero's last verses in his psalms are always impressive in various ways. The close of Dixit Dominus requires the choir to expand to six voices and Confitebor goes to five from the standard four. These are not exceptional procedures, but Guerrero's variety and subtlety within a self-imposed discipline of conciseness and total commitment to the plainchant melodies show why his Vespers music was so admired, used and emulated in the Hispanic world.

In the celebration of Vespers, two other important texts are usually set to follow the psalms, the Hymn and the Magnificat. The hymn text, usually of five to seven verses, was designated for the liturgical occasion, saint's day or other feast-in the present programme, All Saints-and it was customary for alternate verses to be sung by the opposite 'sides' of the choir, antiphonally. Polyphonic singing was widely used, though often instrumental intervention was allowed by the resident wind band of shawms, cornetts and sackbuts or by the organ. Guerrero composed a cycle of twenty-three hymns for Vespers of many of the important Feasts or regular uses during the ecclesiastical year. In these he employs quite elaborate polyphony.

Following the splendid examples of Morales and Costanzo Festa, as well as Sevillian precursors like Escobar and Peñalosa, Guerrero preserves the model, evolved in the fifteenth century, in which the plain (or mensural) hymn tune was always present in one voice or another. Sometimes it is quoted literally; often it is stretched, ornamented or varied, but it is always clearly heard. The All Saints Vespers hymn Christe, redemptor omnium is one of Guerrero's finest in this form.

The climax of Vespers is the invariable text of the Canticle of the Blessed Virgin, the Magnificat. This joyful song has had the attention of composers of all periods from the late Middle Ages to our own time. It seems to bring out some of their most happy and shining music. Perhaps Guerrero's setting on the Fourth Tone is more subdued than others, but it has in its minor key a haunting quality that is enhanced by the sharp accidentals which colour the recitation tone not only in Guerrero's polyphony but in the chant. This is a sixteenth century Spanish twist to the Fourth Tone, one that is clearly notated in a number of contemporary chant books like the Intonarium Toletanum (1515) and, notably, in the plainsong tutor (Breve instrucción de canto llano-Seville, 1565) published by Luys de Villafranca, Guerrero's colleague for many years as plainchant master at Seville Cathedral.

All the Vespers music comes from Guerrero's Liber vesperarum (Rome, 1584) and it is from his own printed intonations and from the evidence of Villafranca that we know of the semi-mensural method of psalmody in Spain. This is well documented in both theoretical and practical books from around 1450 to 1890. It requires us to abandon the plain method of modern times (e.g. Solesmes), instead prolonging many strong syllables, shortening others. It is what Guerrero would have expected.

After the Vespers music, Alistair Dixon chose a beautiful motet for Palm Sunday to serve as an interlude, a point of repose before performing the Requiem Mass. O Domine Jesu Christe is an extra-liturgical text in which the wounded Saviour is adored upon the Cross. Guerrero treats it with tragic expression. It has become one of his best loved pieces. He set the text twice; the present version is that of 1570, later reprinted. A quite different setting was published in 1589.

Polyphonic composition of the Requiem Mass (Missa pro defunctis) was late to develop. The Ordinary-Kyrie, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei-were standard texts throughout the Western Church, though not all composers would set all of them; Ockeghem's has only a Kyrie, at least as it now survives. The composers of the sixteenth century usually set the words of the Ordinary and of the Proper-Introit, Gradual, Tract, Offertory and Communion-although these varied in text and in melody from country to country, indeed from one diocese to another. As a result of the reforms of the Council of Trent these were standardised for all the diocesan uses of the Roman Rite and the Sequence-Dies irae-was required. These new disciplines were enshrined in the Roman Missal issued by Pius V in 1570.
The new Missal was accepted at Seville in January, 1575, due preparation having been made for its adoption. Guerrero dutifully revised his setting of the Mass for the Dead. This new version was published in 1582. The composer made a few small changes to the movements that could be preserved, though he completely changed the Benedictus. Now obsolete texts had to be removed, others changed to conform with the Roman texts. Inevitably, it is the 1582 version that is better known and more likely to be performed.

The present recording presents Guerrero's unreformed Missa pro defunctis, printed in Paris in 1566; it follows the pre-Tridentine use of Seville. Throughout, Guerrero bases his music on the plainchant melodies, clearly placed in one voice or another, more often in the top, always audible. These are always traditional Hispanic melodies or, at least, Hispanic variants of those in general use. The Tract is given twice: one is specified in The Seville Missal for the obsequies of members of the clergy, Sicut cervus and its verse Sitivit anima; the other is specified for use in Paschal Time, Dixit Dominus: Ego sum resurrectio. The latter has been performed at the end of this recording. The Offertorium-Domine Jesu Christe-is unreformed, using the phrase 'ne cadant in obscura tenebrarum loca' rather than the succinct '....in obscurum' of the 1570 Missal. Guerrero did not compose music for the two lengthy verses Hostias et preces and Redemptor animarum specified in the Seville use. We have supplied the first of these in plainchant (from a Processional book of 1563) so that the verse and the repeat of Quam olim Abrahae are properly observed.

The settings of the Sanctus, Benedictus and the three-fold Agnus Dei are given in the unrevised versions. They are followed by what many may find a surprise. Lux aeterna, the Communion (Guerrero calls it Communicanda, a term long used in Spain), begins and ends with the familiar words but contains a late medieval verse, widely used until the reforms; it may be found elsewhere including the English Sarum Use. Guerrero set this Communion twice, for four voices and then for five. He did the same thing to the reformed text when he came to write his revised Mass for the Dead (1582). Both of the 1566 versions are sung by Chapelle du Roi before the Dismissal, following that with the alternative Tract for Paschal Time. Thus all Guerrero's music for his pre-Tridentine 'Requiem' is presented here.

The music's cool beauty, the unpretentious proportions and the calm unfolding of the ancient melodies to the venerable texts
reveal Guerrero's approach to his art as devout and contemplative. There is a stillness and ceremonial formality about it, characteristics that may have become lost in the world of zealous passions in the times of religious conflict.

Bruno Turner, 1999

English texts

[1] Dixit Dominus

Dixit Dominus domino meo: Sede a dextris meis. 
Donec ponam inimicos tuos: scabellum pedum tuorum.
Virgam virtutis tuae emittet Dominus ex Sion: dominare in medio inimicorum tuorum. 
Tecum principium in die virtutis tuae in splendoribus sanctorum: ex utero ante luciferum genui te.
Juravit Dominus, et non poenitebit eum: Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech. 
Dominus a dextris tuis: confregit in die irae suae reges.
Judicabit in nationibus, implebit ruinas: conquassabit capita in terra multorum.

De torrente in via bibet: propterea exaltabit caput. 
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. 

Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper: et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.


The Lord said unto my Lord: sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent: 
thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech.
The Lord at thy right hand: shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies: he shall wound the heads over many countries.
He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up his head. 
Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.


Spruch des Herrn für meinen Herrn: setze dich zu meiner Rechten, bis ich deine Feinde gemacht habe zum Schemel deiner Füße. 
Den Stab deiner Macht wird der Herr aus Zion ausstrecken: herrsche inmitten deiner Feinde. 
Dein Volk ist voller Willigkeit am Tage deiner Macht. In heiliger Pracht, aus dem Schoß der Morgenröte habe ich dich wie Tau gezeugt. 
Geschworen hat der Herr, und es wird ihn nicht gereuen: du bist Priester in Ewigkeit nach der Weise Melchisedeks.
Der Herr zu deiner Rechten zerschmettert Könige am Tag seines Zorns. 
Er wird richten unter den Nationen, er füllt Täler mit Leichen: das Haupt über ein großes Land zerschmettert er. 
Auf dem Weg wird er trinken aus dem Bach, darum wird er das Haupt erheben. 
Ehre sei dem Vater und dem Sohn und dem Heiligen Geist.
Wie es war im Anfang, jetzt und immerdar, und von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit. Amen.


Dios dijo a mi Señor: siéntate a mi diestra, 
hasta que ponga a tus enemigos por escabel de tus pies.
Dios enviará desde Sión el cetro de tu poder: 
reina en medio de tus enemigos.
Tu pueblo te regozijará el día de tu poder, 
en la belleza de la santidad.
Del seno de la aurora
tienes el rocio de tu juventud.
Juró el Señor, y no se arrepentirá: 
tu eres sacerdore por la eternidad 
según el orden de Melquisedec.
El Señor está a tu diestra:
quebrantará a los reyes en el dia de su ira.
Juzgará entre las naciones,
cubrira de muerte sus campos:
quebrantará las cabezas en muchas tierras.
Beberá del arroyo del camino,
por lo cual erguirá la cabeza. 
Gloria al Padre, al Hijo y al Espiritu Santo.
Y como fue en los comienzos, ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos. Amen.


[2] Confitebor tibi, Domine


Confitebor tibi, Domine, in toto corde meo:
in consilio justorum et congregatione.

Magna opera Domini: exquisita in omnes voluntates eius.

Confessio et magnificentia opus eius: et justitia eius manet in saeculum saeculi.
Memoriam fecit mirabilium suorum, misericors et miserator Dominus: escam dedit timentibus se.


Memor erit in saeculum testamenti sui: virtutem operum suorum annunciabit populo suo.
Ut det illis hereditatem gentium: opera manuum eius veritas et judicium.

Fidelia omnia mandata eius: confirmata in saeculum saeculi: facta in veritate et aequitate.

Redemptionem misit Dominus populo suo: mandavit in aeternum testamentum suum.
Sanctum et terribile nomen eius: initium sapientiae timor Domini.
Intellectus bonus omnibus facientibus eum: laudatio eius manet in saeculum saeculi.

Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper: et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.


I will praise the Lord with my whole heart: in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
The works of the Lord are great: sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. 

His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion: he hath given meat to them that fear him.
He will ever be mindful of his covenant: he hath showed his people the power of his works.
That he may give them the heritage of the heathen: the works of his hands are verity and judgement.
All his commandments are sure: they stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever.
Holy and reverend is his name: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
A good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.


Preisen will ich den Herrn von ganzem Herzen im Kreis der Aufrichtigen und der Gemeinde. 

Groß sind die Taten des Herrn, zu erforschen von allen, die Lust an ihnen haben. 

Majestät und Pracht ist sein Tun, seine Gerechtigkeit besteht ewig. 
Er hat ein Gedächtnis gestiftet seinen Wundern, gnädig und barmherzig ist der Herr. 
Er hat Speise gegeben denen, die ihn fürchten. 

Er gedenkt in Ewigkeit seines Bundes. Die Kraft seiner Taten hat er seinem Volk kundgemacht, ihnen das Erbe der Nationen zu geben. 
Die Taten seiner Hände sind Wahrheit und Recht.

Zuverlässig sind alle seine Gebote, 
festgegründet auf immer und ewig, ausgeführt in Wahrheit und Geradheit. 
Er hat Erlösung gesandt zu seinem Volk, seinen Bund verordnet auf ewig.
Heilig und furchtbar ist sein Name: die Furcht des Herrn ist der Weisheit Anfang. 
Eine gute Einsicht für alle, die sie ausüben. Sein Ruhm besteht ewig. 

Ehre sei dem Vater und dem Sohn und dem Heiligen Geist.
Wie es war im Anfang, jetzt und immerdar, und von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit. Amen.



Alabaré al Señor con todo mi corazón:
en la compañía y congregación de los rectos.

Grandes son las obras del Señor,
en busca de ellas van los que las anhelan.

Gloria y belleza es su obra:
y su justicia es sempiterna.
Ha hecho memorables sus maravillas:
clemente y misericordioso es el Señor. 
Alimenta a los que le temen.

Nunca olvidará su Pacto: 
el poder de sus obras manifestó a su pueblo.
Les dió la heredad de las naciones:
las Obras de sus manos son verdad y juicio.

Fieles son todos sus mandamientos:
regirán eternamente y para siempre,
hechos en verdad y rectitud.
Redención ha enviado a su pueblo:
para siempre ha ordenado su pacto.
Santo y temible es su nombre:
el temor al Señor es el principio de la sabiduria.
Buen entendimiento tienen todos los que cumplen sus mandamientos:
su loor permanece para siempre.
Gloria al Padre, al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo.

Y como fue en los comienzos, ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos. Amen.


[3] Beatus vir


Beatus vir qui timet Dominum: in mandatis eius volet nimis.
Potens in terra erit semen eius: generatio rectorum benedicetur.

Gloria et divitiae in domo eius: et justitia eius manet in saeculum saeculi.
Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis:
misericors et miserator et iustus.

Iucundus homo qui miseretur et commodat: disponet sermones suos in iudicio.

Quia in aeternum non commovebitur: in memoria aeterna erit iustus ab auditione.
Mala non timebit: paratum cor eius sperare in Domino.
Confirmatum est cor eius: non commovebitur donec dispiciat inimicos suos.
Dispersit dedit pauperibus: iustitia eius manet in saeculum saeculi cornu eius exaltabitur in gloria.
Peccator videbit et irascetur: dentibus suis fremet et tabescet desiderium peccatorum peribit.
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. 

Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper: et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.



Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord:
that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
His seed shall be mighty on earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

Wealth and riches shall be in his house:
and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Upon the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
A good man showeth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord.
His heart is established: he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor: his righteousness endureth for ever, his horn shall be exalted with honour.
The wicked shall see it and be grieved: he shall gnash his teeth and melt away, the desire of the wicked shall melt away.
Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.



Glücklich der Mann, der den Herrn fürchtet, der große Freude an seinen Geboten hat! 
Seine Nachkommenschaft wird mächtig sein im Land. Das Geschlecht der Aufrichtigen wird gesegnet werden. 
Vermögen und Reichtum wird in seinem Haus sein, und seine Gerechtigkeit besteht ewig. 
Den Aufrichtigen strahlt Licht auf in der Finsternis. Er ist gnädig und barmherzig und gerecht. 
Gut steht es um den Mann, der gütig ist und leiht: er wird seine Sachen durchführen nach dem Recht. 
Denn in Ewigkeit wird er nicht wanken, zum ewigen Andenken wird der Gerechte sein. 
Er wird sich nicht fürchten vor böser Nachricht. Fest ist sein Herz, es vertraut auf den Herrn. 
Beständig ist sein Herz, er fürchtet sich nicht, bis er heruntersieht auf seine Bedränger. 
Er streut aus, gibt den Armen. Seine Gerechtigkeit besteht ewig. Sein Horn ragt auf in Ehre. 
Der Gottlose wird es sehen und sich ärgern, mit seinen Zähnen wird er knirschen und vergehen. Das Begehren der Gottlosen geht verloren. 
Ehre sei dem Vater und dem Sohn und dem Heiligen Geist.
Wie es war im Anfang, jetzt und immerdar, und von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit. Amen.


Bienaventurado el hombre que teme al Señor:
y en sus mandamientos se deleita en gran manera.
Su simiente será poderosa en la tierra:
bendita será la generación de los rectos.
Bienes y riquezas hay en su casa:
y su justicia no perecerá jamás.
Resplandeció a los rectos luz en las tinieblas:
es clemente, misericordioso y justo.

El hombre de bien es misericordioso y presta:
gobierna sus asuntos con juicio.

Por lo cual jamás se apartará de su senda:
en memoria eterna será el justo.
No le entra temor por las malas noticias:
esta su corazón firme y confiado en el Señor.
Asegurado está su corazón: no temerá,
hasta que vea en sus enemigos su deseo.
Reparte y da a los pobres:
su justicia permanece para siempre,
su nombre será exaltado en gloria.
Lo verá el impío y se afligirá:
crujirá los dientes y se consumirá,
el deseo de los impíos perecerá.
Gloria al Padre, al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo.
Y como fue en los comienzos, ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.



[4] Laudate pueri Dominum

Laudate pueri Dominum laudate nomen Domini.
Sit nomen Domini benedictum et hoc nunc et usque in saeculum.
A solis ortu usque ad occasum laudabile nomen Domini. 
Excelsus super omnes gentes Dominus et super caelos gloria eius.
Quis sicut Dominus Deus noster, qui in altis habitat, et humilia respicit in caelo et in terra.


Suscitans a terra inopem et de stercore erigens pauperem.
Ut collocet eum cum principibus cum principibus populi sui.
Qui habitare facit sterilem in domo matrem filiorum laetantem.
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. 

Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper: et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.


Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.