Ordo Prophetarum
Twelfth-century Liturgical drama
In December 2004 took place the premiere of the liturgical drama "Ordo Prophetarum". Since them it is performed in the Catedral of Santiago de Compostela every Christmas.
The Ordo Prophetarum is a medieval liturgical drama of the Christmas cycle. Unlike other similar works it was not based in the dramatization of a biblical episode, but from a fragment of a sermon attributed to St. Augustine. Recreating a sort of trial, prophets of different ages and provenances are summoned by the call of a "Praecentor" to witness the arrival of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
One of ACTUS’s main motivations to stage the Ordo Prophetarum lies in its link with the “Portico de la Gloria” of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. According to the thesis of Professor Serafin Moralejo, which identifies various sculptures of the Portico with different characters in the drama, most of the prophets mentioned in various texts containing the Ordo Prophetarum, including pagans, are present in the Portico. The positioning of the prophets in the Portico is ordered following a spatial approach, placing the visitor not as a spectator of the drama, but as another character in the midst of the prophetic effigies, surrounded by this procession, also invited to give his testimony.
The performance proposed by ACTUS parts from a twelfth-century version of the Ordo Prophetarum, preserved in the monastery of St. Martial de Limoges, now in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. The drama is enriched with thematically related pieces, including the “Cantiga 422” of king Alfonso X, "The Wise" or the Eglogue IV from poet Virgil.
The instruments of the “Portico de la Gloria” are the "orchestra" of the performance. They are placed in the central arch of the Pórtico. This placement leads to a semicircular arrangement of the jugglers at the altar of the cathedral. The instruments were built by Cesar Arias and Francisco Luengo following the research works of Luengo in recent years. The “Portico de la Gloria” also provides invaluable information on the garments, attributes and appearance of the prophets, providing a visually complement to the descriptions of other sources.
Fotographs: Santy López
Organistrum, medieval lute, vyolas and canon made by César Arias and F. Luengo, following the instruments represented in the “Pórtico de la Gloria” of the Cathedral of Santiago
Harp made by F. Luengo, from the “Pórtico da Gloria”
Citole and large vyola made by F. Luengo from the corbels in the Palace of Xelmírez.
Moorish guitar made by Carlos Paniagua
Large drum made by Víctor Barral
Tabula personae (2009)
Praecentor
Israel
Moisés
Isaías
Xeremías
Daniel
Abacuc
David
Raíña de Saba
Balaam
Simeón
Isabel
Xoán Bautista
Virxilio
Nabucodonosor
Sibila
Xurxo Varela
Luís Martínez
Martín Viaño
Oscar MAto
José María Ares
Diego Neira
José M Abeleira
Malena Pazos
Mª del Rosario Pita
Pablo Mato Collazo
Diego Blázquez
Elena Sobrino
Carlos A. Esteban
Nacho Suárez
Alfredo López Moure
María Giménez
Vocal coordinator: Miro Moreira
Tábula joculatorum
Manuel Vilas
Valentín Novio
César Arias
Sabela García Fonte
Mª José Pámpano
Pablo Gastaminza
William Cooley
Felipe Sánchez
Mercedes Rubio e Bruno Forst
Francisco Luengo
Marcos Mato
Ana Pazos
Tony Esparís
Harp
Citola
Lute
Vyola
Vyola
Vyola
Canon
Moorish guitar
Organistrum
Large Vyola
Bells and percussion
Medieval trumpet
Medieval trumpet
Conductor: Francisco Luengo
Musical Instruments in Ordo Prophetarum
TechnicalTeam:
Manuel Castiñeiras
Clotilde Vaello
Inés Rodriguez and Fannybell
Puri Pereira, María Illobre and Raquel Fidalgo
Parolas
Felipe Sar
Art direction, music transcription and adaptation
Choir Master
Art Advisory
Costumes
Hairdresser
Makeup
Transport
Producer
Francisco Luengo. Musician & luthier
Organized by
Magnis prophetae uocibus
uenire Christum nuntian
Laetae salutis praeuia
qua nos redemit gratia.
Hinc mane nosrum promicat
et corda laeta exaestuant,
cum uox fidelis personat
praenutiatrix gloriae.
Aduentus hic primus fuit,
punire quo non saeculum
uenit, sed ulcus tergere,
saluando quod perierat.
At nos secundus praemonet
adesse Christum ianuis,
sanctis coronas reddere
caelique regna pandere.
Aeterna lux promittitur
sidusque saluans promitur;
iam nos iubar praefulgidum
ad ius uocat celestium.
Te, Christe, solum quaerimus
uidere, sicut est Deus,
ut perpes haec sit uisio
perenne laudis canticum.
Amen.
Omnes:
Omnes:
Hodie scietis
quia veniet Dominus
et mane videbitis
gloriam eius.
Omnes:
Antiphona
Nebuchadnezzar
king of Babylon,
who submitted
his dreams
to the scrutiny of Daniel.
Age, fare, os lagene
que de Christo nosti uere
Nabucodonosor prophetiza,
auctorem omnium auctoriza.
Cum reuisi
tres quos misi
uiros in incendium,
uidi iustis
incombustis
mixtum Dei filium.
Uiros tre in ignem misi,
cuartum cerno prolem Dei.
Nabucodonosor
Virgilio arrives, the highest pagan poet
who announced the coming of Jesus.
Vates, Maro, gentilium,
da Christo testimonium!
Ultima Cumaei uenit iam carminis aetas;
Magnus ab integro saeclorum nascitur ordo
Iam redit et Uirgo redeunt Saturnia regna
Iam oua progenies caelo demittitur alto.
Tu modo nascenti puero. quo ferrea primum
desinet ac toto surget gens aurea mundo,
Casta faue Lucina: tuus iam regnat Apolo
Teque adeo decus hoc aeui, te consule inibit,
Pollio, et incipient magni procedere menses
te duce, si qua manent sceleris uestigia nostri
inrita perpetua soluent formidine terras.
ille deum uitam accipiet diuisque uidebit
permixtos heroas et ipse uidebitur illis,
pacatumque reget patriis uirtutibus urbem.
(Égloga IV, 4-17)
Ecce polo demissa sola noua progenies est.
Praecentor:
Appeal:
Reply:
Virgilius
This is John, who poured on Jesus
the lustral water of Jordan,
recognizing him as Messiah
when the dove descended upon
the Son of God.
Dic, Baptista
uentris cista clausus
Qua dedisti causa
Christo plausus?
Cui dedisti gaudium
profer et testimonium?
Venit talis
salutaris
cuius non sum etiam
tam benignus
ut sim ausus
soluere corrigiam.
Praecentor:
Appeal:
Reply:
Johannes Baptista
Here comes Elizabeth, an elderly woman
who gave Zechariah a son named Juan.
Illud, Helisabeth, in medium,
de Domino profer eloquium!
Quid est rei
quod me mei
mater heri uisitat?
Nam ex eo,
uentre meo
letus infans palpitat.
Praecentor:
Appeal:
Reply:
Elisabeth
Simeon a righteous and devout man,
recognized
in the temple of Jerusalem
the one anointed by the Lord,
he blessed him but he predicted
many misfortunes to Mary.
Nunc Simeon adueniat,
qui responsum acceperat,
qui non haberet terminum
donec uideret Dominum.
Lumen ad revelationem gentium:
et gloria plebis tuae Israel.
Nunc me dimittas, Domine.
finire uitam in pace.
Lumen ad revelationem…
Quia mei modo cernunt oculi
Lumen ad revelationem…
quem misisti
hunc mundum pro salute populi.
Lumen ad revelationem…
Gloria Patri et Filio
et Spiitui Sancto
sicut erat in principio,
et nunc, et semper,
et in saecula seculorum.
Amen.
Simeon
Here to Balaam, the soothsayer
arrested by the Angel of the Lord,
on his way to meet Balak,
king of Moabites.
Dic tu, Balaam, filius Beor,
propheta moabitarum:
Da Christo testimonium!
Orietur stella ex Iacob,
et consurget uirga de Israel
et percutiet duces Moab
uastabitque omnes filios Seth.
Balaam
Praecentor:
Appeal:
Reply:
Heed the gentle Queen of Sheba,
who visited Solomon
to pay tribute
and bathe in its wisdom.
Sapientiae Salomonis,
Regina Saba
uera pandet iam.
Regina austri surget in iudicio
cum generationes ista,
et condemnauit eam:
quia uenit a finibus terre,
audire sapientiam Salomonis,
et ecce plus quam Salomon hic.
Regina Saba
Praecentor:
Appeal:
Reply:
With you David, son of Jesse,
from the tribe of Judah,
shepherd musician, winner of evil
and glorious king.
Dic tu, David, de nepote,
causas que sunt tibi note?
Universus
grex conuersus
adorabit Dominum,
qui futurum seruiturum
omne genus hominum.
Dixit Dominus Domino meo:
sede a dextris meis.
David
Praecentor:
Appeal:
Reply:
See Habakkuk,
minor prophet of Israel,
censor of idolatry.
Abacuc, regis celestis,
nunc ostende quod sis testis!
Et expectaui,
mox expaui
metu mirabilium,
opus tuum
interduum
corpus animalium.
Habacuc
Praecentor:
Appeal:
Reply:
Daniel arrives,
Hebrew boy,
prefiguration of Christ,
who was saved from the lions.
Daniel, indica,
uoce prophetica,
facta dominica.
Rex in aeternum vive.
Sanctus Sanctorum ueniet,
et unctio deficiet.
Ecce uenit
Sanctus ille
sanctorum santissimus
que rex iste
iubet coli
potens et fortissimus.
Sanctus Sanctorum ueniet,
et unctio deficiet.
Rex in aeternum vive.
Daniel
Praecentor:
Appeal:
Omnes:
Reply:
Omnes:
Hodie scietis
quia veniet Dominus
et mane videbitis
gloriam eius.
Omnes:
Antiphon
Here comes Jeremiah,
eternal persecuted,
who predicted the destruction of Jerusalem
and the captivity in Babylon.
Huc accede, Ieremias:
dic de Christo prophetias!
Sic est.
Hic est
Deus noster
sine quo non erit alter.
Ieremias
Praecentor:
Appeal:
Reply:
Appears the Prophet Isaiah,
who denounced the corruption of morals,
and three times he announced to Emmanuel.
Isaías, verum qui scis,
ueritatem cur non dicis?
Est necesse
Uirgam Iesse
de radice prouehi
flos deinde
surget inde,
qui est spiritus Dei.
Isaias
Praecentor:
Appeal:
Reply:
See here Moses, patriarch whom God entrusted the mission of liberating his people in a long journey through the desert
Legislator huc propinqua,
et de Christus prome digna!
Dabit Deus uobis vatem;
huic ut mihi aurem date,
qui non audit hunc audientem,
expellitur sua gente.
Moyses
Praecentor:
Appeal:
Reply:
This is the people of Israel
from the lineafge of Jacob,
of the seed from wich the Messíah
will be born.
Israel, uir lenis, inque?
De Christo (quid) nosti firme?
Dux de Iuda non tollitur
donec adsit qui notetur.
Salutare Dei uerbum
expectabunt gentes mecum.
Israel
Praecentor:
Appeal
Reply:
Himnus
Praecentor:
Omnes gentes
congaudentes
dent cantus leticiae!
Deus homo fit
de domo David,
natus hodie.
O Iudei,
uerbum Dei
qui negatis hominem
uestre leges,
testem regis
audite per ordinem.
Et uos, gentes,
non credentes
peperisse uirginem,
uestre gentis,
documentis,
pellite caliginem.
˜
Iudea incredula,
cur manes adhuc inuerecunda?
Behold the Sibyl Eritrea,
Pythoness of paganism,
who guessed the coming of Christ.
Vera pande jam, Sibila
que de de Christo prescis signa?
Madre de Deus, ora
por nos teu Fill´essa ora.
U verra na carne
que quis fillar de ty, Madre
joyga-lo mundo
cono poder de seu Padre.
Madre de Deus…
E u el a todos
pareçerá mui sannudo,
enton fas-elle’enmente
de como foi coçebudo.
Madre de Deus…
E en aque dia,
quand’elle for mais irado,
fais-lle tu emente
com’en ti foi enserrado.
Madre de Deus…
U verás dos santos
as compannas espantadas
mostra-ll’as tas tetas
santas que ouv’el mamadas.
Madre de Deus…
U ao juiyzio
todos, per com’é escrito,
verrán, di-lli como
con el fugisti a Egito.
Madre de Deus…
U leixarán todos
os viços e as requezas,
di-lle que sofriste
con el(e) muitas pobrezas.
Madre de Deus…
U queimará fogo
serras (e) vales e montes,
di com’en Egipto
non achast’aguas nen fontes.
Madre de Deus…
U verás os angeos
estar ant’ele tremendo,
di’lle quantas vezes
o tu andast’ascondendo.
Madre de Deus…
U dirán as tronpas:
“Mortos, levade-vos logo”,
di-ll’u o perdiste
que ta coita non foy jogo.
Madre de Deus…
U será o ayre
de fog’e de suffr’aceso
di-ll’a mui gran coita
que ouviste pois foi preso.
Madre de Deus…
U verrá do çeo
sõo mui fort’e rogido
di-ll’o que soffriste
u d’açoutes foi ferido.
Madre de Deus…
U terrán escrito
nas frontes quanto fezeron,
di-ll’o que soffriste
quand’o ena cruz poseron.
Madre de Deus…
E quando ss’iguaren
montes (e) vales e chaõs,
di-ll’o que sentiste
u lle pregaron as mãos.
Madre de Deus…
E u o sol craro
tornar mui negro de medo,
di-ll’o que sentiste
u beveu fel e azedo.
Madre de Deus…
E du o mar grande
perderá sa semellança,
di-ll’o que sofriste
u lle deron cona lança.
Madre de Deus…
E u as estrelas
caeren do firmamento,
di-ll’o que sentiste u
(foi) posto monumento.
Madre de Deus…
E du o inferno
levar os que mal obraron,
di-ll’o que se(n)tiste
u o sepulc(r)o guardaron.
Madre de Deus…
E u todo-los Reys
foren ant’el omildosos,
di-lle como vees
deles dos mais poderosos.
Madre de Deus…
E u mostrar ele
todo’estes grandes pavores,
fas com’avogada,
ten voz de nos pecadores.
Madre de Deus…
Que polos teus rogos
nos lev’ao parayso
seu, u alegria
ajamos por senpr’e riso.
Madre de Deus, ora
por nos teu Fill’essa ora.
Siibilla
Praecentor:
Appeal:
Reply:
ORDO PROPHETARUM
FULL TEXT:
Praecentor:
Appeal:
Reply:
Antiphon:
Praecentor:
Appeal:
Reply: