John Dunstable - Preco Preheminenciae

Описание: As sung by the Choir of St. James Cathedral, Toronto on Sunday 22nd September 2019. Director of Music: Robert Busiakiewicz.

The Choir of St. James Cathedral, Toronto sings Choral Evensong every Sunday at 4.30pm.

Text:
A:

The herald preceded
the supreme prince,
the salvation of wisdom
followed soon after;
the herald proclaimed
repentence beforehand;
the prince purified us
through his power;
the lawgiver lay hidden,
granted to the weak;
the forerunner was manifest,
wise and experienced.
The flowing water washed
the slippery path of expiation,
the troubled crowd fears
both the stain and the cleansing;
he is sent and changes
the ministry of a great
messenger into a mystery
of a better kind.
The peace of the father is unfolded
to his repentant people,
while the Son is immersed
in a flowing river.
He descends from heaven,
the gift of God,
sharing with the consoler,
the prince of piety.
A single sign
of holiness follows;
to these three is assigned
the throne of the Trinity.
The outpouring ceases,
the shrine of
rebirth renews
rest for the reborn.
The land of punishment
was for the first time subdued.
The royal city
takes back the reborn.

A vanguard is sent
to prepare the people.
He strives to announce the news
to those in darkness;
He fittingly overcame
the god of the desert;
by foretelling wisely
he was of help to many.
Captured, he was confined
in the custody of prison.
Fearing such things,
the king was greatly ddisturbed.
The body called together
to a cruel banquet,
dancing, in cursed payment,
she wounded him
by slicing off his head.
The head was sliced off
and sent as payment
to the pittiable woman.
The prayers of the vanguard
stand forth as a help,
the support of the holy saviour
who follows.

Born of woman there has never been one
greater than John the Baptist.