Should've tried a German composer first...

[concertigrossi]

So I was poking around emusic, looking for a really depressing, religious piece of music to use for part of the backstory I'm writing (you know, the way that you do) and I've run into some roadblocks. See, I need something that would be played in an Anglican church (knock off all the Italians, the French and the Austrians), around 1750 (cross out the Romantics) and really impressively I-deserve-to-go-to-hell depressing.

And lo, I found one:

From Ich hatte viel Bekummernis, by JS Bach:



Bäche von gesalznen Zähren,
Fluten rauschen stets einher.
Sturm und Wellen mich versehren,
Und dies trübsalsvolle Meer
Will mir Geist und Leben schwächen,
Mast und Anker wollen brechen,
Hier versink ich in den Grund,
Dort seh ins der Hölle Schlund.

Translation:


Streams of salty tears are welling,
Floods are rushing ever forth.
Storm and waters overwhelm me,
And this sorrow-laden sea
Would my life and spirit weaken,
Mast and anchor are near broken,
Here I sink into the depths,
There peer in the jaws of hell.


The problem: It's Protestant, but it's part of a cantata, so it's not something that a small-town church choir would just be singing, I don't think. And I can't make a case for Norrington knowing German. Latin, French, Spanish and I'm told that if you know Latin well enough, you can make yourself understood in Italian, but German as the language of the intellectuals didn't start up until the 19th century.

Ah well. It's amusing me to do so, so I search on. There must be something by Handel I'm overlooking. :)

Comments

[cipher-six.livejournal.com]

Would a 16th century English composer work? I've uploaded a piece by Thomas Tallis for you. Its very brief, and is basically just a plea for mercy from God, but it could be depressing...If that doesn't work, there is a depressing-sounding piece on Wiki, but I can't find a translation for it. Good luck!

Salvator Mundi on imeem.

Lamentatione Jeremiae Prophetae on Wikipedia.

Oh yeah, and you might want to check out Sheppard & Byrd as well.

[concertigrossi.livejournal.com]

How could I forget about Tallis!? I even have both of those on CD... we sang a lot of Tallis in the choir I was in in college. (We did Spem in Alium, which was great fun in a 40-voice choir, and "O Nata Lux," which, imo, is one of the most beautiful chorus pieces ever.

The words aren't quite right, though... The "help us, we beseech thee, O Lord.." is great, I need something to reinforce a crippling depression. Basically, I'm trying to detail what happened to Norrington between CoTBP, and DMC, and I need him to lose EVERYTHING, including his faith in God.

The translation for the Lamentatione runs:

From the Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah.
Dalet. The ways of Zion mourn, for there are none who come to the solemn ceremonies: all her gates are ruined, her priests sigh and groan, her virgins are fouled, and she is oppressed with bitterness.
Lamed. O all you who pass by this way, behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, turn to the Lord your God.

So very good, but not quite to the purpose. :) Though I may use the "behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow" line.

And thanks for the suggestions! I really appreciate it. :) I'll start looking through Sheppard and Byrd, too...

Maybe I can find someone who wrote music to the Book of Job... THAT might be enough for someone in the wrong frame of mind to reject his faith.

[pink-siamese.livejournal.com]

The words don't have to be spot-on; it's really all about the feel. Besides, human emotion is capable of corrupting any song. If you're sad/angry/despondent enough, the happiest song gets dragged down.

I completely adore oppressed with bitterness. Fits that part of James's life to a T.

[concertigrossi.livejournal.com]

True...

And you're right, but the closer I can get with the words, the better. 18th century Anglican choral music is pretty obscure, and it's not like I can insert an mp3 into a fic. :)

I think I've got one, by Leonard Lechner:

If we receive good at the hand of God, shall we not then also endure evil? The Lord gives, the Lord takes away: as it pleases the Lord, so is it done, let the name of the Lord be blessed.

I've always figured that if you read that verse to someone who's life had really hit the skids, their response would be none too positive.