Musae Iovis

General information

Elegy for Josquin des Prez, probably written by Gerard Avidius.

Settings by composers

• Benedictus Appenzeller ATTB (vv. 1-2 only)
• Benedictus Ducis ATTB (a different poem after opening words)
• Nicolas Gombert ATTTBB

Text and translations

Latin text 1. Musæ Iovis ter maximi Proles canora, plangite, Comas cypressus comprimat Iosquinus ille ille occidit, Templorum decus, Et vestrum decus. 2. Severa mors et improba Quæ templa dulcibus sonis Privas, et aulas principum, Malum tibi quod imprecer Tollenti bonos, Parcenti malis? 3. Apollo sed necem tibi Minatur, heus mors pessima, Instructus arcu et spiculis Musasque ut addant commonet, Et laurum comis, Et aurum comis. 4. Iosquinus (inquit) optimo Et maximo gratus Iovi, Triumphat inter cœlites Et dulce carmen concinit Templorum decus, Musarum decus.

English translation 1. Ye Muses, melodious offspring of thrice-greatest Jupiter, make lamentation. The cypress draws in its leaves. The famous Josquin, he is dead: the glory of temples, and your own glory. 2. Grim and merciless Death, who deprive the temples and princely courts of sweet sounds, what curse could I invoke upon you who take away the good, who spare the undeserving? 3. But Apollo, equipped with bow and arrow, threatens you with destruction, O you most vile Death, and calls upon the Muses to add both laurel and gold to their hair. 4. "Josquin," he says, "pleasing  to the best and greatest Jupiter, exults among the heavenly beings and sings a sweet song: the glory of temples, the glory of the Muses".

Spanish translation

1. Musas, descendencia canora de Júpiter
tres veces máximo, llorad.
Que el ciprés ciña vuestros cabellos
pues aquel, aquel Josquin, ha muerto,
honor de los templos
y honor vuestro.

2. Muerte, severa y perversa,
que privas a los templos y los palacios regios
de sus dulces sones,
¿qué mal podría desearte a ti,
que te llevas a los buenos
y perdonas a los malvados?

3. Sin embargo, Apolo te amenaza con la aniquilación,
¡ay crudelísima muerte!,
armado de arco y flechas,
y les recuerda a las Musas
que ciñan sus cabellos con laurel,
que adornen con oro sus cabellos.

4. Y dice: “Josquin, grato a Júpiter
óptimo máximo,
triunfa entre las deidades
y entona un dulce canto,
honor de los templos
honor de las musas”.

Translation by Alejandro Borrego Pérez

In the setting by Gombert, T3 quotes the introit for Septuagesima: 'Circumdederunt me gemitus mortis, doloris inferni circumdederunt me' (= The cries of death and the pains of hell surround me).