Savall's musical training started in the school choir of his native town (1947-55). He later completed his training at the Barcelona Conservatory of Music (1959-65). Afterward, he began his specialisation in early music at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland (1968-70).
In 1974 he formed the ensemble Hespèrion XX (since 2000 as Hespèrion XXI), together with the soprano Montserrat Figueras (his wife), Lorenzo Alpert and Hopkinson Smith. Hespèrion XX favored a style of interpretation characterised by great musical vitality and at the same time, maximum historical accuracy.
In 1987 he returned to Barcelona to found La Capella Reial de Catalunya, a vocal ensemble devoted to the interpretation of music prior to the 18th century.
Finally, in 1989 Savall created Le Concert des Nations, an orchestra that is generally dedicated to the baroque repertoire, but which sometimes also serves as an outlet for music that hails from the classical/romantic repertoire (e.g. Sinfonia a Gran Orquesta by Juan Crisótomo de Arriga).
Savall's discography includes more than 140 recordings. Since 1998 he has released his records with his own label, Alia Vox.
Jordi Savall is also a two-time Grammy nominee, who scored the 1991 Alain Corneau film, Tous les matins du monde (also awarded the César of the French film industry in 1992). The soundtrack, re-released on his own Alia Vox label, has sold more than a million copies worldwide.
O Virgo splendens
Jordi Savall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I O Maria, maris stella,
plena gracie,
mater simul et puella,
vas mundicie.
II Templum nostri Redemptoris,
sol iusticie,
tronus glorie.
III Sublevatrix miserorum,
vena venie,
audi servos te rogantes,
mater gracie.
IV Ut peccata
sint ablata
per te, hodie,
qui te puro laudat corde
in veritate.
Triplum
O Maria, Virgo Davitica,
virginum flos, vite, spes unica,
via venie,
lux gracie,
mater clemencie;
sola iubes in arce celica,
obediunt tibi milicie;
sola sedes in trono glorie;
gracia plena, fulgens, deica.
Stelle stupent de tua specie,
sol, luna de tua potencia
que luminaria
in meridie;
tua facie vincis omnia.
Prece pia mitiga filium,
miro modo cuius es filia,
ne iudicemur in contrarium
sed et eterna vite premia.
Tenor
[In veritate].
Amen.
The lyrics to Jordi Savall's song "O Virgo splendens" are in Latin and are a prayer to the Virgin Mary. The song is written in a three-part polyphony, with the Duplum (first voice) and Triplum (third voice) alternately singing different verses, while the Tenor (second voice) provides a repeating line.
The opening verse of the Duplum addresses Mary as "O Maria, maris stella" which translates to "O Mary, star of the sea." It praises her as being full of grace and both mother and maiden, symbolizing her purity. It also refers to her as the vessel of purity.
The second verse describes Mary as the temple of their Savior, the sun of justice, the gate of heaven, and the hope of sinners. It acknowledges her as the throne of glory.
The third verse refers to Mary as the upliftress of the wretched, the source of forgiveness, and asks her to listen to her servants who are praying to her for grace.
The fourth verse highlights the belief in Mary's intercession for the forgiveness of sins. It asks for sins to be washed away through her and praises those who praise her with a pure heart in truth.
The Triplum continues the praise of Mary, addressing her as the Virgo Davitica (the virgin descendant of David), the flower of virgins, the unique hope of life. It calls her the way of forgiveness, the light of grace, and the mother of mercy. It emphasizes her authority in the celestial realm and portrays her as commanding the heavenly host and reigning in glory. It further describes her as full of grace, shining and divine. The Triplum mentions that even the stars and sun are amazed by her beauty and power.
The final lines of the song, sung by the Tenor, affirm the truthfulness of the previous verses by repeating "In veritate" which means "In truth." The prayer concludes with an Amen.
Line by Line Meaning
I O Maria, maris stella,
Oh Maria, star of the sea
plena gracie,
full of grace
mater simul et puella,
mother and maiden at the same time
vas mundicie.
pure vessel
II Templum nostri Redemptoris,
temple of our Redeemer
sol iusticie,
sun of justice
porta celi, spes reorum,
gate of heaven, hope of the guilty
tronus glorie.
throne of glory
III Sublevatrix miserorum,
helper of the miserable
vena venie,
fountain of forgiveness
audi servos te rogantes,
hear us, your praying servants
mater gracie.
mother of grace
IV Ut peccata
so that sins
sint ablata
may be washed away
per te, hodie,
through you, today
qui te puro laudat corde
who praises you with a pure heart
in veritate.
in truth
Triplum
Triple
O Maria, Virgo Davitica,
Oh Maria, Virgin descendant of David
virginum flos, vite, spes unica,
flower, life, and unique hope of virgins
via venie,
path of forgiveness
lux gracie,
light of grace
mater clemencie;
mother of mercy
sola iubes in arce celica,
you alone command in the heavenly realm
obediunt tibi milicie;
the armies obey you
sola sedes in trono glorie;
you alone sit on the throne of glory
gracia plena, fulgens, deica.
full of grace, shining down
Stelle stupent de tua specie,
the stars are amazed by your beauty
sol, luna de tua potencia
the sun and moon by your power
que luminaria
which are luminaries
in meridie;
in daylight
tua facie vincis omnia.
you conquer everything with your face
Prece pia mitiga filium,
with your pious prayer, appease your son
miro modo cuius es filia,
marvelously as you are his daughter
ne iudicemur in contrarium
so that we may not be judged against
sed et eterna vite premia.
but rather receive the rewards of eternal life
Tenor
Tenor
[In veritate].
[In truth].
Amen.
Amen.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Anonymous
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@unagondolaunremo
meraviglia! come fai a possedere questi video? eri uno degli organizzatori del concerto?
@EdoardoLambertenghi
Questi video li realizzo io con un amico, questo è stato un lavoro difficile ma di grande soddisfazione
@MilitiaImmaculataeFR
Bonsoir peut-on faire des reprises pour illustrations musicales dans des vidéos ? Merci
@EdoardoLambertenghi
Je n'ai pas bien compris votre question
@MilitiaImmaculataeFR
Est-il possible de prendre certaines de vos vidéos pour utiliser la musique comme fond sonore sur mes vidéos ? Merci
@EdoardoLambertenghi
Oui, il est possible, merci de mentionner mon nom.