The Rose Ensemble live in NYC: "Virgen bendita sin par" -Pedro de Escobar (ca. 1465 – post 1535)

Live at Trinity Church Wall Street, New York City, December 2, 2010 Virgen bendita sin par" -Pedro de Escobar (ca. 1465 – post 1535) Manuscript source: Cancionero Musical de Palacio: Madrid, Biblioteca Real, MS II - 1335 (late-15th-early-16th-century) The Rose Ensemble Jordan Sramek, Founder/Artistic Director, tenor, percussion Amanda Jane Kelley, Kathy Lee, Kim Sueoka, (soprano) Lisa Drew, Linda Kachelmeier, Kristine Kautzman (alto) Nicholas Chalmers, Roy Heilman (tenor) Mark Dietrich, Daniel Mahraun, Jonathan Ten Brink (bass) Ginna Watson (violin) with Julie Elhard (viola da gamba) & Phillip Rukavina (vihuela de mano) PROGRAM NOTES (Jordan Sramek): Pedro de Escobar (also known as Pedro do Porto) was born in Oporto, Portugal, but nothing is known of his life until he entered the service of Isabella I of Castile in 1489. For ten years, he served as a singer in the Catholic Queen's well-endowed chapel, and was clearly working as a composer as well. 17 of his compositions (including "Virgen bendita sin par," which is unique to the source) appear in el Cancionero Musical de Palacio (the Palace Songbook) of Ferdinand II and Isabel I. In 1499 Escobar returned to his native Portugal, but in 1507 returned to Spain, accepting a job as maestro de capilla at the cathedral in Seville. Part of his new duties, in addition to teaching choirboys to sing, was to also take care of the boys’ room and board. Records indicate him complaining of low pay, which eventually led to his resignation. Later records show him back in Portugal in 1521, this time working as mestre de capela for prince Dom Afonso, Cardinal-Infante of Portugal, son of Manuel I of Portugal. His career seems to have ended badly, however, for there is a mention in a 1535 document that he was an alcoholic and living in squalor. TEXT: Virgen bendita sin par, De quien toda virtud mana, Vos sois digna de loar. Vos, sagrada Emperadora, Desesistes el engaño Y remediastes el daño De la gente pecadora. De los ángeles señora vos queráis tal gracia dar, Que no podamos pecar Contra aquel que carne humana De vos plugo tomar. De vos canta Salomón Toda y en toda fermosa, Entre las espinas rrosa Salistes en perfeçión. A vos ell alto varón Se umille a devoçión, Que sois bendita sin par, De quien toda virtud mana, Vos sois digna de loar. Desde ab initio criada Antes santa que nacida, Para ser nuestra abogada Fuistes de Dios escogida; La muerte de nuestra vida Reparastes sin dudar: Vos nuestro bien singular De quien toda virtud mana, Vos sois digna de loar. TRANSLATION (Dr. Barbara F. Weissberger): Blessed Virgin without equal, From whom all virtue flows, You are worthy of praise. You, sacred Empress, Undid the deception And remedied the harm of The sinners. Lady of the angels, May you grant us such grace, That we can no longer sin Against him whom from you it pleased to take human flesh. Solomon sings of you, All and completely beautiful. Among the thorns you appeared, A perfect rose. May the highborn man Humble himself to your devotion, For you are blessed without equal, From whom all virtue flows, You are worthy of praise. Created from the beginning Saintly before birth, So as to be our advocate You were chosen by God; The death of our life You repaired without a doubt: You, our singular good, From whom all virtue flows You are worthy of praise.