O bone et dulcissime Jesu (Josquin des Prez)

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• (Posted 2020-09-15)  CPDL #60590:     

Editor: Adrian Wall (submitted 2020-09-15).   Score information: A4, 12 pages, 1.8 MB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Transposed up a tone. Note values halved. 6-voice version (SSATTB).

• (Posted 2010-10-02)  CPDL #22388:       

Editor: John Hetland (submitted 2010-10-02).   Score information: Letter, 10 pages, 548 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Josquin's original 4-voice version. Notation here is a wholetone higher than the original with time values halved. Translation by David E. Green, General Theological Seminary. Text underlay and musica ficta by John Hetland and the Renaissance Street Singers.

General Information

Title: O bone et dulcissime Jesu
Composer: Josquin des Prez

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicings: SATB or SSATTB
Genre: Sacred, Motet

Language: Latin
Instruments: A cappella

    Manuscript c.1512 in Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, MS Capp. Sist. 45, no. 16
    Manuscript c.1550 in Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Mus. MS 41
Description: Josquin's original composition has 4 voices. The copy at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek provides two additional voices, by an anonymous composer, possibly Ludwig Daser.

External websites:

• Patrick Macey: "Josquin, Good King René, and O bone et dulcissime Jesu" in Hearing the Motet (ed. Dolores Pesci, pub. OUP, 1997)

Original text and translations

Latin text O bone et dulcissime Jesu, per tuam misericordiam esto mihi Jesus! Quid est Jesus nisi plasmator, nisi redemp tor, nisi salvator. Ergo bone et dulcissime Jesu, qui me plasmasti tua benignitate, rogo te, ne pereat opus tuum mea iniquitate. Ergo quaeso, anhelo, suspiro ne perdas quod tua fecit omnipotens divinitas. Recognosce quod tuum est et ne respicias quod meum est. Noli cogitare malum meum, ut obliviscaris bonum tuum. Si ego commisi per quod dannare me debes, tu non amisisti unde me salvare potes, Et si secundum iustitiam tuam dannare me vis, ad tuam piissimam et ineffabilem misericordiam appello. Ergo quaeso: miserere mei, miserere mei, secundum magnam misericordiam et pietatem tuam. Amen.

English translation O good and most sweet Jesus, through thy mercy be my Jesus. What is Jesus but creator, but redeemer, but savior! Therefore, O good and most sweet Jesus, who hast created me through thy kindness, I pray thee that thy work may not perish through my iniquity. Therefore I pray, I beseech, I implore that thou mayest not destroy what thine omnipotent divinity hath made. Remember what is thine and do not look upon what is mine. Do not plan my evil so as to forget thy good. If I have committed anything for which thou shouldst damn me, thou hast not lost the possibility to save me. And if according to thy justice thou willest to damn me, to thy compassionate and ineffable mercy I appeal. Therefore I pray: have mercy upon me according to thy great mercy and compassion. Amen.