Repertoire

Spem in alium

Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585)

Original Text

English Translation

Original Text

Spem in alium nunquam habui,
praeter in te, Deus Israel:
Qui irasceris
et propitius eris.
Et omnia peccata hominum
in tribulatione dimittis,
Domine Deus, Creator caeli et terrae,
respice humilitatem nostram.

English Translation

I have never had hope
in anyone but Thee, God of Israel,
Thou who grow angry
and will hear prayer.
Thou eliminate all the sins of men
in tribulation.
Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth,
look down upon our humility.

This piece was performed by the SFBC in Visions of Utopia: Perspectives of the “Golden Age” on May 22, 1999.