Veni Domine

Felix Mendelssohn, like Brahms, wrote music for women's voices.  He didn't write a piece and then adapt it for women's voices.  No.  This was for women's voices.  Well, women's voices in the church.

Veni Domine is Opus 39, no. 1.  The women's chorus is just singing this first movement.  It has three sections (ABA, loosely).  G minor to Bb major then back to G minor.  The middle section I made a trio so that the ladies had one less thing to learn.

Veni Domine is a call to worship.  Veni Domine means "Come, Lord."  It's inviting the Lord to be with the people (and quickly!), and asks the Lord to forgive the wrong doing of the people.

The trick to making this piece really "sing" is to use vary the dynamics.  There are lots of repeated phrases and the singers (and conductor) should acknowledge through the music that these repeated phrases are not the same.  They need to be different.  There is some push and pull on the tempo, but not nearly as dramatic as the dynamics.

There is a lot of pull within the texture because of the suspensions and resolutions.  Rhythm helps with this as well.

This is the second piece of our program.  It ends with a picardy third, making it a G major chord.

Text and Translation:

Veni Domine et nolitardare.

Relaxa facinora plebi tuae

et revoca disperses in terram tuam.

Excita Domine potentiam tuam.

et veni, ut salvos non facias. 

Come Lord and do not delay.

Forgive the wrong doing of your people,

and recall the scattered to You, Lord.

Raise up your power, Lord,

and come save us.