Although most of its work focuses on music of the Medieval and Renaissance periods, the Hilliard Ensemble also performs contemporary music, working frequently with the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt and including in its concerts works by John Cage, Gavin Bryars, Giya Kancheli, and Heinz Holliger.
The group was originally founded by Paul Hillier, Paul Elliott, and David James, although the membership was flexible until Hillier left in the late 1980s. Since 1990 the core members have been David James, Rogers Covey-Crump, John Potter, and Gordon Jones.
The Hilliard Ensemble has recorded extensively for the ECM label. In 1993, when popular interest in Gregorian chant was at its height, the ensemble released the CD Officium, an unprecedented collaboration with the Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek. The disc became one of ECM's biggest-selling releases of all time, reaching the pop charts in several European countries. (Officium's sequel, the 2-CD set Mnemosyne, followed in 1999.)
Parce mihi Domine
The Hilliard Ensemble Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quid est homo, quia magnificas eum?
Aut quid apponis erga eum cor tuum? Visitas cum diluculo, et subito probas illum.
Usquequo non parcis michi, nec dimittas me, ut glutiam salivam meam? Peccavi.
Cur non tollis peccatum meum, et quare non aufers iniquitatem meam?
Ecce nunc in pulvere dormio; et si mane me quesieris, non subsistam.
Translation
Spare me, O Lord, for my days are nothing.
What is a man that thou shouldst magnify him?
Or why dost thou set thy heart upon him? Thou visitest him early in the morning, and thou provest him suddenly.
How long wilt thou not spare me, nor suffer me to swallow down my spittle? I have sinned.
What shall I do to thee, O keeper of men? why hast thou set me opposite to thee, and I am become burdensome to myself?
Why dost thou not remove my sin, and why dost thou not take away mine iniquity?
Behold now, I shall sleep in the dust: and if thou seek me in the morning, I shall not be.
The lyrics to The Hilliard Ensemble's song Parce mihi Domine are a mournful plea for mercy from the Lord. The singer acknowledges that their days are fleeting and insignificant, and questions why God would even bother with them. The Lord tests and visits them, yet still refuses to spare them from their suffering. The singer admits to their sins and begs for the Lord to pardon them. They ask why God has made them suffer so, and why He has burdened them with their own mistakes. The singer acknowledges their own mortality, stating that they will soon sleep in the dust and be gone.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of helplessness and despair, as the singer feels lost and abandoned by God. They struggle to understand why they are suffering and question their own worth. However, the song also carries a sense of humility and repentance, as the singer humbly admits to their sins and begs for mercy.
Line by Line Meaning
Parce mihi Domine, nihil enim sunt dies mei.
Have mercy on me, oh Lord, for my days are worthless and finite.
Quid est homo, quia magnificas eum?
What is man that you should exalt him?
Aut quid apponis erga eum cor tuum? Visitas cum diluculo, et subito probas illum.
Or why do you set your heart on him? You visit him early in the morning, and suddenly put him to the test.
Usquequo non parcis michi, nec dimittas me, ut glutiam salivam meam? Peccavi.
How long will you not spare me, nor let me swallow my own spit? I have sinned.
Quid faciam tibi, o custos hominum? Quare posuisti me contrarium tibi, et factus sum michimet ipsi gravis?
What can I do for you, oh keeper of men? Why have you made me your adversary, causing me to be a burden to myself?
Cur non tollis peccatum meum, et quare non aufers iniquitatem meam?
Why don't you take away my sin, and remove my iniquity?
Ecce nunc in pulvere dormio; et si mane me quesieris, non subsistam.
Behold, now I sleep in the dust; and if you seek me in the morning, I will not be there.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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