Vidi speciosam

Responsory at Matins for the feast of the Assumption of the BVM. The Solesmes 1934 Responsory includes Gloria Patri, while among other variations are an Antiphon.

Settings by composers

• Raffaella Aleotti SATTB
• Felice Anerio SATB
• Vincenzo Bellavere SSAT.ATBB up to "et lilia convallium"
• Gemignano Capilupi SSATTB up to "Quae est ista"
• Giovanni Paolo Cima SST & bc
• Giovanni Croce SATTB up to "Quae est ista"
• Alessandro Grandi ATTB (basso seguente) up to "Quae est ista"
• Marco Antonio Ingegneri SSAATT.SATB.SSATTB
• Andreas Hakenberger SSAB.SATB.ATTB
• Johannes Lupi SATTB diverges after "Quae est ista"
• Pierre de Manchicourt SSAATTBB, SSTTTTBB — some variation from the text below (see work page)
• Tiburtio Massaino SSTB
• Giovanni Battista Riccio BB & bc (1st part only)
• Tomás Luis de Victoria SSATTB
• Gaspar van Weerbeke STTB up to "et lilia convallium", omitting "Et sicut dies verni".

Text and translations

Latin text Vidi speciosam sicut columbam ascendentem desuper rivos aquarum: Cuius inaestimabilis odor erat nimis in vestimentis eius. Et sicut dies verni, flores rosarum circumdabant eam, et lilia convallium. Quae est ista, quae ascendit per desertum sicut virgula fumi, ex aromatibus myrrhae et thuris? Et sicut dies verni, flores rosarum circumdabant eam, et lilia convallium.

Spanish translation La vi hermosa, como una paloma, remontado los arroyos de agua. El aroma de sus vestidos era incomparable, y, como los días de primavera, las rosas y los lirios de los valles la rodeaban. ¿Quién es ésta, que sube por el desierto como rama sahumada con perfumes de mirra e incienso? Y, como los días de primavera, las rosas y los lirios de los valles la rodeaban. Translation by Alejandro Borrego Pérez

English translation I saw the fair one rising like a dove above the streams of water: whose priceless fragrance clung to her garments. And as on a spring day, she was surrounded by roses and lily-of-the-valley. Who is this who rises from the desert like a pillar of smoke from incense of myrrh and frankincense? And as on a spring day, she was surrounded by roses and lily-of-the-valley.