Emendemus in melius

General information

Matins Responsory for Lent I & Distribution of Ashes on Ash Wednesday.

Settings by composers

William Byrd SATTB Baldassare Donato SAATB or SATTB (Substitutes verse from Ps. 105/106) Andrea Gabrieli ATTBBB Nicolas Gombert SATTB All editions withdrawn Orlando di Lasso SATTB also arr. SATB Pierre de Manchicourt SAATB or STTBarB (Substitutes verse from Ps. 105/106)

Tiburtio Massaino SSATTB Cristóbal de Morales ATTBB or SAATB (Substitutes verse from Psalm 3) Andrea Rota SATTB Jean Richafort ATTB (Substitutes verse from Ps. 105/106) Ludovico Spontoni SATB.AATB (Substitutes gloriam for honorem in Psalm 78/79) Ascanio Trombetti SATTT

Text and translations

Latin text Emendemus in melius quae ignoranter peccavimus; ne subito praeoccupati die mortis, quaeramus spatium poenitentiae, et invenire non possimus. Attende, Domine, et miserere; quia peccavimus tibi. (cf. Bar. 3:2) Versus: Adjuva nos, Deus salutaris noster, et propter honorem[gloriam] nominis tui libera nos. (Ps. 78:9a) Donato & Manchicourt: Peccavimus cum patribus nostris, iniuste egimus, iniquitatem fecimus. (Ps. 105:6) Morales: Memento, homo, quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris. (Ps. 3:19)

English translation Let us amend for the better in those things in which we have sinned through ignorance; lest suddenly overtaken by the day of death,  we seek space for repentance, and be not able to find it. Hearken, O Lord, and have mercy: for we have sinned against thee. Verse: Help us, O God of our salvation, and for the honour[glory] of thy name deliver us. (Psalm 79:9a) Alternate verses: We have sinned like our fathers, we have acted unjustly and done wrong. (Psalm 106:6) Remember, O man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return. (Psalm 3:19)