One of the challenges I’ve come up against learning Cuncti Simus Concanentes is exactly how to phrase the word “vocabis” in the last verse:
Vocabis eum Jhesum: Ave Maria.
(All LV translations in this article courtesy of Dick Wursten).
Approaching the text from an Italian-Latin point-of-view for pronunciation, it makes sense to assume that the stress in “vocabis” should go on the penultimate syllable, “ca” (and Wikitionary agrees). However, simply stitching the text and the (almost certainly repurposed secular) music together results in the stress being placed firmly on the “vo”:
M:6/8 L:1/8 F2F E2E|DCD E2D-|D2 A,D2 D|EFD E2F| w: vo-ca-bis e-um__ Jhe-sum:_A-ve Ma-ri__a-
What is to be done about this? Two options present themselves. Either extend the “vo”, placing the “ca” in the middle of the bar, ensuring it’s on a down-beat:
M:6/8 L:1/8 F2F E2E|DCD E2D-|D2 A,D2 D|EFD E2F| w: vo_ca-bis e-um_ Jhe-sum:_A-ve Ma-ri__a-
or alternatively moving the “vo” to the up-beat preceeding the last line, ensuring the “ca” is on the strongest beat:
M:6/8 L:1/8 D|F2F E2E|DCD E2D-|D2 A,D2 D|EFD E2F| w: vo-ca-bis_ e-um__ Jhe-sum:_A-ve Ma-ri__a-
In this example I’m placing “eum” across the bar, mainly because singing [bi] for two crochets sounds silly. If it turns out that “eum” shouldn’t be split across the bars then “ca” and “bis” could both take up half a bar, but that’s research for another day.
So, which option to go for? I initially intended on listening to two or three of the slightly more authoritative recordings of Cuncti Simus I know, but got a little carried away and ended up listening to/watching 33 different recordings.
In summary: most artists, regardless of musicality of performance, native language or “authoritativity” don’t bother trying to put stress on “ca” in favour of “VO” (amongst these, whether or not to extend “bis” is split 17 no to 5 yes). A few lonely artists extend “vo”, ensuring there’s at least some stress on “ca”. Some people miss the last verse out completely for some reason — presumably to avoid the stress of trying to figure out how to phrase “vocabis”.
CAPS used to indicate stressed syllable, hy-phens to indicate extended syllables. Any other particularly interesting observations also noted. Performances are in the order I listened to them.
This recording uses VOcabis.
British early music ensemble, sings VOcaBI-is.
Sings Vo-CAbis. I particularly like this performance.
Capella de Ministrers
Sings VOcabis, all “x” pronounced silently.
New London Consort
Sings VO-CAbis, noticeably slower than most performances.
They leave out “vocabis” in both of the videos of their performances, but have Weichselbaumer hurdy gurdies (a Tenor and is that an old Pico there?) so get an honorable mention.
Jordi Savall Hespèrion XX
Sings VoCabis. I typically consider Hespèrion XX one of the more authoritative ensembles, so either they know something I don’t or are ignoring stress.
Trobar De Morte
This interpretation is weird enough that I can’t hear what’s going on, let alone how they phrase “vocabis”.
This is also a very strange interpretation. The “ca” is not stressed, but the melody is different so there’s not really much point comparing.
Sung VOcabis, very strange speed changes presumably to emphasise contrast between chorus and weirdly articulated solos.
The NIU Chamber Choir
They missed out “vocabis” but is a fun performance anyway.
Sings VOcabis, has an unusual “ave” rhythm.
Leaves out “vocabis” and has quite a strange vocal style but JAZZ HANDS
Conjunto de Música Antiga Renantique
Sings VOcabis eu-um [i]sum, quite a bit faster than most.
Sings VOcabis but who cares because THAT ANIMATION AT THE BEGINNING WITH THE WEASEL OR WHATEVER SPINNING AROUND.
Komorni zbor Ave
Sings VOcabis, and props to them for actually performing a round dance (the original intention of the song) whilst singing! Another Weichselbaumer gurdy spotted here — at first I thought it was the elusive Canto, but nope, an Allegro.
Ansambl za ranu glazbu Minstrel
Sings VOcaBi-is, starts off with “virgo sola” instead of the first refrain, and features an in-tune crumhorn, another elusive beast. Probably Croatian native speakers.
Diane Sutherland and Bruno "Elevteros" Libert
Sings VOcabis, video juxtaposes medieval Cantigas de Santa Maria instruemnt minuatures with photos of modern keyboards and DAWs.
Sings VOcabis, and features Troels on gurdy! Hi Troels!
Antwerps Collegium Musicum
Sings VOcabis. Interestingly, they miss out the refrain between each verse, which, looking at the original manuscript (which btw gives no indication of how “vocabis” should be phrased) is actually an ambiguous detail.
Sings VOcabis, performer has cool beard.
Gambuzinos em Leiria 2014
Misses out “vocabis”, not really sure what to make of this one.
Missed out vocabis, recording doesn’t really do them justice — I’d like to hear this lot live.
La Camera delle Lacrime
Sings VOcabis, contains some interesting melodic changes to the solo parts (verses).
Using quite a strange version of the text. Misses out vocabis.
SKOWRONKI Girls' Choir
Sings VOcaBI-is. They have a gurdy, can’t see who made it. Most likely native Polish speakers.
As noted above, the (probably incorrect) stressed-VO version wins out in terms of numbers. Other than that there’s no real pattern to who chooses to do what with regards to phrasing, prounuciation, melodic treatment or tempo.
The only other interesting observation which came out of a couple of hours of youtube watching was that no-one plays Cuncti Simus as a round. Why not? It’s such a good round.
Personally, I’m going to alternate singing with vo on the upbeat and with an extended vo, and see which I like the most.
VO- CAbis (extended vo-, no upbeat, stress on CA): 3
- Capella de Ministrers
- New London Consort
VOcabis (no extended syllables, stress incorrectly on VO): 17
- Lutin d'Ecouves
- Ensemble Micrologus
- Jordi Savall
- MUSICA RESERVATA
- Conjunto de Música Antiga Renantique
- Komorni zbor Ave
- Ensemble Enchiriadis
- Diane Sutherland and Bruno "Elevteros" Libert
- Antwerps Collegium Musicum
- LABRI GIOTTO
- Flauto dolce
- La Camera delle Lacrime
- Dick Wursten
VOcaBi-is (stress on VI, BI, extended [i], no up-beat): 5
- Ansambl za ranu glazbu Minstrel
- Coro UCSJ
- SKOWRONKI Girls' Choir
- Compagnie Guilia
voCAbi-is (vo on upbeat, [i] extended): 0
Missed out vocabis: 8