Listen, O Lord, unto my prostrate prayer (Giovanni Croce)

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• (Posted 2020-10-03)  CPDL #60778: 

Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2020-10-03).   Score information: A4, 14 pages, 441 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download. This edition is offered at original pitch for SSATTB or transposed down a fourth for SAATTB

General Information

Title: Listen, O Lord, unto my prostrate prayer
Composer: Giovanni Croce
Lyricist: Psalm 143

Number of voices: 6vv   Voicings: SSATTB or SAATTB
Genre: Sacred, Motet

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1608 in Musica Sacra to Six Voices, no. 7
Description: A contrafact of Croce's Audi, o Domine, vocem (Psalm 142). Croce's Sette sonetti penitentiali were first published in 1596. They arrived in England a decade later as "Musica Sacra: to Six Voyces. Composed in the Italian tongue by GIOVANNI CROCE. Newly Englished. In London Printed by Thomas Este, the assigne of William Barley. 1608."

Original text and translations

English text

Listen O Lord unto my prostrate prayer,
Nor into judgement with thy servant enter:
For who is just? The foul infernal tempter
Pursues my soul with terrors of despair.
My heart's all inly vexed, yet I applied me
To weigh thy works, thy wonders I observed,
But to thy mercy the chief place reserved;
Then shew my sin, and in thy service guide me.
Succour me Lord, save me with expedition;
My spirit fainteth: therefore mine affection,
My mind, my soul, I lift (with all submission)
To thee my Lord, my God, and my protection:
Draw me from danger, under thy tuition,
For I thy servant am by thine election.

Psalm 143, paraphrased in sonnet by Francesco Bembo, english'd by R.H.