13. sept. 2014

Monica Clark, Global Sisters Report, skriver bl.a.

Ninety-three Discalced Carmelite nuns in 24 countries have reached out of their cloistered monasteries to sing together in a virtual choir honoring St. Teresa of Avila on the 500th anniversary of her birth. This union of voices came together through the musical vision of a Carmelite Sister in Reno, Nev., and the creative imagination of a technical wizard in the Midwest.  

The result is two 6-minute videos of the sisters singing on a virtual stage, created by Kansas native Scott Haines. In one video they sing Teresa’s famous words “Nada Te Turbe” (“Let Nothing Disturb You”) in an original composition by Sr. Claire Sokol of the Carmelites of Reno. In the other, some of their Carmelite friars and Secular Carmelites join them in the 11th century “Salve Regina” chant with an added descant written by Sokol.

The music is hauntingly beautiful, but it is the moving collage of the Carmelites’ faces as they sing that lifts the sound to greater heights. “It took me to places within myself I didn’t know existed,” said one Carmelite after viewing “Nada Te Turbe” during its premiere in San Jose, Calif. on Aug. 22 as part of the 500th anniversary celebration by Carmelites of the western U.S. “There are no words to describe how I feel,” said another.

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Lyrics: 

Salve, Regina

Salve, Regína, mater misericórdiae: 
Vita, dulcédo, et spes nostra, salve. 
Ave María, 
Ad te clamámus, éxsules, fílii Hevae. 
Ad te suspirámus, geméntes et flentes 
in hac lacrimárum valle. 
Ave María, 
Eia ergo, Advocáta nostra, 
illos tuos misericórdes óculos 
ad nos convérte. 
Ave María, 
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, 
nobis, post hoc exsílium osténde. 
Ave María, 
O clemens: O pia: O dulcis 
Virgo María.
Ave María!

Translation: 

Queen, Mother of Mercy:
Our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
Hail Mary, 
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. 
to thee do we send up our sighs 
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Hail Mary, 
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us. 
And after this our exile
show unto us the blessed fruit 
of thy womb Jesus.
Hail Mary, 
O clement: O loving:
O sweet Virgin Mary.
Hail Mary!

Salve, Regina, attributed to Hermannus Contractus, 1013–1054; adapted by Claire Sokol, OCD. Music: Salve, Regina, Chant, Mode V; adapted by Claire Sokol, OCD. Text and music adaptation © 2013, Carmelite Monastery of Reno. Published by OCP. All rights reserved.

Composed by: Sister Claire Sokol, OCD, Carmel of Reno; www.carmelofreno.com
Conducted by: Dr. James Savage, St. James Cathedral, Seattle; www.stjames-cathedral.org
Executive Producer: Scott Haines, Virtual Musicians Association
Virtual Choir conceptualized by: Eric Whitacre, www.ericwhitacre.com

Presented by: The Discalced Carmelite Order of the Western U.S. and made possible by the Bremer Family Foundation

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Lyrics: 
Nada Te Turbe

Nada te turbe;
nada te espante;
todo se pasa;
Dios no se muda,
la pacïencia
todo lo alcanza.
Quien a Dios tiene,
nada le falta.
Sólo Dios basta.

Translation: 

Let nothing disturb you;
Let nothing frighten you;
All things are passing;
God alone is changeless.
Patience 
gains all things.
Who has God 
lacks nothing.
God alone suffices. 

Text: Nada Te Turbe, from St. Teresa of Avila's Bookmark. Text adaptation and music by Claire Sokol OCD, © 2013, Carmelite Monastery of Reno. Published by OCP. All rights reserved.

Composed by: Sister Claire Sokol, OCD, Carmel of Reno; www.carmelofreno.com
Conducted by: Dr. James Savage, St. James Cathedral, Seattle; www.stjames-cathedral.org
Executive Producer: Scott Haines, Virtual Musicians Association
Virtual Choir conceptualized by: Eric Whitacre, www.ericwhitacre.com

Presented by: The Discalced Carmelite Order of the Western U.S. and made possible by the Bremer Family Foundation

Website: St. Teresa of Avila Fifth Centenary

Facebook side: St Teresa 5th Centenary Western US

Global Sisters Report: Song shared around the world: Carmelites form a virtual choir