Concerto for choir in four parts (English Translation)
Alfred Schnittke


Part 1 "oh, Lord of the Universe"

Oh, Lord of the Universe
You give us your precious gifts,
Lord creating everything out of nothing
Obscure to us, you know all
You are full of terror and mercy.
You are inexorable, inexpressible and incomprehensible
You are invisible, external and boundlessly terrifying and beneficial You are impenetrable and intangible
Without beginning and without end
You are the infinity the only certainty and reality of the world You are the one to bless us
You are the sun without sunset and light without shadow.
You are the sole source of peace for us which enlightens the course of life.
You know no limits, you are everywhere
You are our daily bread and sweetest honey, inexhaustible treasure and lightest rain, You are the greatest power forever.
The teacher and the savior
The healer who knows all the troubles
You are the eyes and support for everyone
The majestic giving hand, whom everybody loves.
Our tireless shepherd and merciful king,
Who watches over us all without sleep at night
The most just judge, the voice of consolation
Who brings a sense of calm.
You have a shrewd all-seeing eye that keeps mortals away from sin.
You are the one who judges right from wrong
Your glory excites no envy
You are our guiding light and never-ending greatness
The invisible but straightest way.
Your steps are untraceable
But we can see your mercy, which comes constantly to us from Heaven.
The words that I spoke to your glory are poorer than would be yours by right,
Because my tongue is weak.
Oh, Lord, you are blessed and praised by every living creature in the world
Everything that we are destined to gain
Is the result of your wise decision.
Oh, Lord, in my doubt, please
Show me the way to purification and guide me to salvation.
Rejoice and be content.
The aim of your slave's song is not to praise.
My unworthy words entreat for salvation.


Part 2 "Every line of these songs is full of dark grief and sorrow"

Every line of these songs is full of dark grief and sorrow I who know human passion
Composed these verses to blame myself
I wanted these words to reach every Christian in the world.
To touch the hearts of those who are only entering life, And those who are in the middle of their way
As well as those who are at the fateful line.
For righteous men I wrote and for sinners
For the consoled and the inconsolate
For the judging and the judged
For the repentant and the prisoners of sin
For the virtuous and the evil
For virgins and adulterers
For all: for the well born
and those who are without kin
For slaves and dukes
I wrote equally for women and for men
For masters and for the oppressed
For the humble and for the high
For insulters and for the offended
For the comforters and the comforted
I wrote equally for horsemen and for walkers
I wrote equally for the small and the great
For people in towns and people in the mountains
And for the highest rulers, whom only God can judge For people full of vanity
And people full of goodness
For monks, holy hermits.
Let these lines, so full of my pain
Become edification
Let the one who repents, find in them consolation
Let any man turn this work of mine into
What is good for him
And let these verses, turned into prayer
Bring us God's forgiveness.

Part 3 "To all who would perceive the essence of these sorrowful words"

To all who would perceive the essence of these sorrowful words
To all who would comprehend the heart of this creation
Give, oh God, redemption of their sins.
Set them free from doubt and crime
Give them their desired absolution
Let their tears fall like rain
Let them pray with my voice
And let their prayer reach
You as well as me, your humble slave.
Let your light shine for those who repent
And read these mournful verses with understanding.
And if you accept those who come to
Your mercy with this prayer of mine
Then, Lord, open the holy gates for me,
And if my humble supplication
Falls like rain, washing all sins away
Let me be washed by holy water
And if you Lord, save everyone, who shares the very essence of my verse
Save me, my merciful Lord
Forgiving all my darkest sins
And if my song makes other souls
Closer to you
Do not deprive me of your
Heavenly kindness
And if the ones who understand my song
Raise their trembling hands to Heaven
Let the pain of my cry
United with their pure prayer
And if the thoughts, expressed in this song
Please you
Then in your great generosity
Show mercy to the ones who came before me
And if the one who is so weak in spirit
Comes closer to you thanks to this song
Let him at last find support in you
And if the one, who has so little faith
Once fears for his shaky temple
Then let your mighty hand make it
Stronger with my lines
When someone who is in pain
Thinks that his life is almost over
Let him seek strength in these verses
And praying let him find revival
And if the fear of death or any doubt
Comes over someone of your people
Be merciful and let him find peace when
Reading these lines of mine.
And if the burden of the sins without redemption
Pulls to the abyss those who have sinned
Let them be saved and forgiven
By the essence of these words, inspired by you
And if there is a sinner somewhere caught by the devil
Show him your light
And let these verses be his support
And if there is a person who in his arrogance
Is able to forget his holy prayers
Let me bring him back
To your holy revelation
And those who are blind
And who believe in what is vain
Please, let me bring them back
To the cross and sacrament
And let my song inspired by your holy mercy
Soothe the wave of unbelief
That comes like a hurricane
Over human souls.

Part 4 "This work, which I began with hope"

This work, which I began with hope
And in your name
Lord conclude
So that my song brings relief
From the wounds of the body and the soul
And if my song ends modestly
With your holy blessing
Let my inspiration unite
With the spirit of God.
And don't let the light
That you have given me die
And don't desert my mind
But let the one who serves you
Praise you again and again.
Amen.