| linguae |
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QUESTIONS ARISING FROM 85th. MEETING – 29/12/17
(the record of earlier meetings can be downloaded from the main Circulus page)
Pre-dinner snacks (merenda, -ae f, gustātiō, gustātiōnis f, or antecēnium, -ī n) included cāseus (cheese). olīvae, pānis (bread) and crustula (biscuits), washed down with both normal vīnum rubrum/sanguineum and vīnum aromāticum callidum (or, as we called in 2014, vīnum coctum), i.e. mulled wine, whilst listening to Monteverdi’s Vesperae Beātae Virginis. The main meal included roast lamb (agnīna assa), farcimina (sausages), carōtae (carrots) and batātae assae (roast potatoes). An earlier, more classical word for `carrot’ was pastināca, -ae f but this was apparently a generic term including a range of other root vegetables.
Circulus `Adeste Fideles' (`O Come All Ye Faithful') carmen cantat
There is also a problem with selecting the most appropriate word for `potato.’ The Circulus used to employ sōlānum, ī n, from the botanical name for the plant, Solanum tuberosum. However, in classical Latin sōlānum referred rto nightshade and in the Linnaean system Solanum is the name of the very large genus which includes this plant, potatoes tomatoes and many others. The potato is, of course, a New World species unknown to the Romans and the English word comes, via Spanish patata, from the Haitian Carib word batata, which actually referred to the sweet potato. The entry at www.etymonline.com gives interesting information on the diffusion of this staple food and the name for it:
Sweet potatoes were first to be introduced to Europe; in cultivation in Spain by mid-16c.; in Virginia by 1648. Early 16c. Portuguese traders carried the crop to all their shipping ports and the sweet potato was quickly adopted from Africa to India and Java.
The name later (1590s) was extended to the common white potato, from Peru, which was at first (mistakenly) called Virginia potato, or, because at first it was of minor importance compared to the sweet potato, bastard potato. Spanish invaders in Peru began to use white potatoes as cheap food for sailors 1530s. The first potato from South America reached Pope Paul III in 1540; grown in France at first as an ornamental plant. According to popular tradition, introduced to Ireland 1565 by John Hawkins. Brought to England from Colombia by Sir Thomas Herriot, 1586.
Against that background, batāta is perhaps the best choice for modern Latinsts, though there are several other labels, including māla terrestria (``earth apples’), on the analogy of French pomme de terre.
Dessert included both crême brûlé (crēmum cremātum?) and Pavlova (Paulōva, -ae f?). Meringue, the major ingredient of Pavlova, is perhaps meringa, -ae f. For `dessert’ itself, either bellāria, -ōrum n (found in Suetonius) or the Ciceronaian secunda mēnsa (`second course’) can be used.
Eugene is a competent performer in the genre but the rest of us got more credit for effort than for results when we attempted to sing the Gregorian Chant Latin version of `Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer’ (Renō erat Rudolphus). This was composed by Eyolf Østrem using lyrics by an unknown translator. For details, and an audio link see http://gaudium-mundo.blogspot.hk/2005/12/reno-erat-rudolphus-plain-chant-version.html Eugene explained that the 4-staff notation now used for chant is actually a 19th century product: medievalsingers had to do without the lines.
We sang Adeste Fidēlēs (`O Come all ye faithful’) and the Advent carol Vēnī, Venī Emmanuel (`O Come. O Come Emmanuel’), after listening to performances on YouTube (see the lyrics and links below and at https://linguae.weebly.com/carmina-nativitatis.html) Eugene had also brought along the Gregorian Chant music and lyrics of the first of these carols, which is included in the Liber Usualis, a vast compilation of Latin texts in regular use in the Catholic Church until the switch to the vernacular in the 1960s (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liber_Usualis ). The collection is said to have originated in the 11th century with the monks of the Abbey of Salermes in France and a 1961 edition (comprising over 2000 pages) is available at https://archive.org/details/TheLiberUsualis1961 The Liber Usualis version included two stanzas not in the handout John had brought and these have now been added to the `linguae’ page from which the handout had been taken:
There is also a problem with selecting the most appropriate word for `potato.’ The Circulus used to employ sōlānum, ī n, from the botanical name for the plant, Solanum tuberosum. However, in classical Latin sōlānum referred rto nightshade and in the Linnaean system Solanum is the name of the very large genus which includes this plant, potatoes tomatoes and many others. The potato is, of course, a New World species unknown to the Romans and the English word comes, via Spanish patata, from the Haitian Carib word batata, which actually referred to the sweet potato. The entry at www.etymonline.com gives interesting information on the diffusion of this staple food and the name for it:
Sweet potatoes were first to be introduced to Europe; in cultivation in Spain by mid-16c.; in Virginia by 1648. Early 16c. Portuguese traders carried the crop to all their shipping ports and the sweet potato was quickly adopted from Africa to India and Java.
The name later (1590s) was extended to the common white potato, from Peru, which was at first (mistakenly) called Virginia potato, or, because at first it was of minor importance compared to the sweet potato, bastard potato. Spanish invaders in Peru began to use white potatoes as cheap food for sailors 1530s. The first potato from South America reached Pope Paul III in 1540; grown in France at first as an ornamental plant. According to popular tradition, introduced to Ireland 1565 by John Hawkins. Brought to England from Colombia by Sir Thomas Herriot, 1586.
Against that background, batāta is perhaps the best choice for modern Latinsts, though there are several other labels, including māla terrestria (``earth apples’), on the analogy of French pomme de terre.
Dessert included both crême brûlé (crēmum cremātum?) and Pavlova (Paulōva, -ae f?). Meringue, the major ingredient of Pavlova, is perhaps meringa, -ae f. For `dessert’ itself, either bellāria, -ōrum n (found in Suetonius) or the Ciceronaian secunda mēnsa (`second course’) can be used.
Eugene is a competent performer in the genre but the rest of us got more credit for effort than for results when we attempted to sing the Gregorian Chant Latin version of `Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer’ (Renō erat Rudolphus). This was composed by Eyolf Østrem using lyrics by an unknown translator. For details, and an audio link see http://gaudium-mundo.blogspot.hk/2005/12/reno-erat-rudolphus-plain-chant-version.html Eugene explained that the 4-staff notation now used for chant is actually a 19th century product: medievalsingers had to do without the lines.
We sang Adeste Fidēlēs (`O Come all ye faithful’) and the Advent carol Vēnī, Venī Emmanuel (`O Come. O Come Emmanuel’), after listening to performances on YouTube (see the lyrics and links below and at https://linguae.weebly.com/carmina-nativitatis.html) Eugene had also brought along the Gregorian Chant music and lyrics of the first of these carols, which is included in the Liber Usualis, a vast compilation of Latin texts in regular use in the Catholic Church until the switch to the vernacular in the 1960s (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liber_Usualis ). The collection is said to have originated in the 11th century with the monks of the Abbey of Salermes in France and a 1961 edition (comprising over 2000 pages) is available at https://archive.org/details/TheLiberUsualis1961 The Liber Usualis version included two stanzas not in the handout John had brought and these have now been added to the `linguae’ page from which the handout had been taken:
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Aeterni Parentis splendorem aeternum
velatum sub carne videbimus: Deum infantem, pannis involutum. Pro nobis egenum et faeno cubantem piis foveamus amplexibus: sic nos amantem quis non redamaret? |
Eternal Parent's splendour eternal
veiled under flesh we-will-see God infant in-rags wrapped For us needy and in-hay lying with pious let-us-cherish embraces thus us loving who not would love-in-return |
Much more difficult to sing was the setting of the story of the angel and the shepherds from Luke’s Gospel in Saint-Saens Christmas Oratorio (also given below). The composer is better-known for his `Carnival of the Animals’ and his opera `Samson and Delilah.’
John had also prepared a passage on snow fights in 16th century Sweden from Olaus Magnus’ Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus, Rome, 1555, which is at https://books.google.com.hk/books?id=O9lEAAAAcAAJ . We did not have time to read this so it will be used at a future meeting.
CARMINA FESTIVA
https://www.facebook.com/ClassicFM/videos/10156180924659260/ (female soloist)
http://gaudium-mundo.blogspot.hk/2005/12/reno-erat-rudolphus-plain-chant-version.html (mail choir)
Text with long vowels marked according to Restored (i.e. classical) Pronunciation. `Videās’ (`you were to see’ has been substituted for the ungrammatical `vidēbat’ (`he/she was seeing’) in the version given with the music.
Rēnō erat Rudolphus. Nāsum rubrum habēbat Sī quandō videās, hunc candēre tū dīcās. Omnēs tarandrī aliī semper hunc dērīdēbant; cum miserō Rudolphō in lūdīs nōn lūdēbant. Sanctus Nicholas dīxit nocte nebulae: `Ō Rudolphe, nocte hāc vīsne traham dūcere?’ Tum rēnōnēs clāmābant, `Rudolphe, dēlectus es? Cum nāsō rubrō clārō nōtus eris posterīs.’ Alleluia
John had also prepared a passage on snow fights in 16th century Sweden from Olaus Magnus’ Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus, Rome, 1555, which is at https://books.google.com.hk/books?id=O9lEAAAAcAAJ . We did not have time to read this so it will be used at a future meeting.
CARMINA FESTIVA
https://www.facebook.com/ClassicFM/videos/10156180924659260/ (female soloist)
http://gaudium-mundo.blogspot.hk/2005/12/reno-erat-rudolphus-plain-chant-version.html (mail choir)
Text with long vowels marked according to Restored (i.e. classical) Pronunciation. `Videās’ (`you were to see’ has been substituted for the ungrammatical `vidēbat’ (`he/she was seeing’) in the version given with the music.
Rēnō erat Rudolphus. Nāsum rubrum habēbat Sī quandō videās, hunc candēre tū dīcās. Omnēs tarandrī aliī semper hunc dērīdēbant; cum miserō Rudolphō in lūdīs nōn lūdēbant. Sanctus Nicholas dīxit nocte nebulae: `Ō Rudolphe, nocte hāc vīsne traham dūcere?’ Tum rēnōnēs clāmābant, `Rudolphe, dēlectus es? Cum nāsō rubrō clārō nōtus eris posterīs.’ Alleluia
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Adeste, fideles, laeti triumphantes;
Venite, venite in Bethlehem; Natum videte Regem angelorum. Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus. Venite adoremus Dominum. En grege relicto, humiles ad cunas vocati pastores adproperant: et nos ovanti gradu festinemus. Veni, veni Emmanuel! Captivum solve Israel, qui gemit in exsilio, privatus Dei Filio. CHORUS Gaude, gaude; Emmanuel nascetur pro te, Israel. Veni, O Jesse virgula! Ex hostis tuos ungula, de specu tuos tartari educ et antro barathri. CHORUS Veni, veni O Oriens! Solare nos adveniens, noctis depelle nebulas dirasque noctis tenebras. CHORUS Veni, Clavis Davidica! Regna reclude caelica! Fac iter tutum superum et claude vias inferum. CHORUS Veni, veni Adonai! Qui populo in Sinai legem dedisti vertice, in Maiestate gloriae. CHORUS |
Be present, faithful-ones, joyful triumphant
Come, come, into Bethlehem Born see King of angels Come, let-us-adore Come let-us-adore Come let-us-adore the-Lord See with-flock abandoned humble to cradle called shepherds hasten and we with-rejoicing step let-us-make-haste Come, come Emanuel Captive set-free Israel who groans in exile deprived-of God’s Son CHORUS Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel will-be-born for you, Israel Come, O Jesse's branch out-of enemy’s claw your-people * from cave of-hell your-people * lead-out and from-cavern of-abyss CHORUS Come, come O Rising-one Comfort us arriving night’s clouds drive-off * and-terrible of-night darkness CHORUS Come, Key of David Kingdoms unlock heavenly Make journey safe to-heaven And close ways to-hell CHORUS Come, come Adonaus Who to-people in Sinai law gave from-on-high in majesty of-glory CHORUS |
Ecce versiō altera carminis de Rudolphō illo quod Latinista quīdam sodālibus Gregis Latīnē Loquentium ostendit:
Rudolfō rennō rubrināsō
Erant nārēs nitidissimae
Quās sī quandō conspicerēs
Dīcerēs exsplendēscere.
Omnēs rennī rīsu cēterī
Cum eō cavillārī solēbant,
Neque umquam miserum Rudolfum
Sīvērunt lūdīs suīs lascīvīre
Tum quādam nebulōsā vesperā
Sanctus advēnit eī dictātum:
Rudolfe nāsō splendidō,
Quīn hāc nocte traham duceres?
Tunc ita rennī eum dīlēxērunt
ut laetī omnēs exclāmārint:
Rudolfe renne rubrināse,
Memorāberis in tabulīs
VOCABULARY NOTES
rennus, -ī m seems to be a recent coinage for `reindeer’. The usual Latin equivalents are tarandrus, -ī m (used by Pliny the Elder) and rēnō, rēnōnis m (in Caesar), though the latter probably only meant reindeer skin (as a garment) in classical Latin. The scientific name for the species is Rangifer tarandrus and rangifer, -ferī m is found in 16th century Latin as is cervus iugālis
cavillor, -ārī, cavillātus sum is classical Latin for `jeer’ or `scoff (at)’
exclāmārint is a contraction of the perfect subjunctive exclāmāverint
The plainchant version of `Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer’ can also be heard (with the Latin text as subtitles) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwkH1SAwphY
Luke 2: 8-14 (the angel appearing to the shepherds) is set to music in Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio (from 3:15 in the recording at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktt7s7yDGxc )
Et pastores erant, in regione eadem vigilantes, et custodientes vigilias noctis super gregem suum. Et ecce Angelus Domini stetit juxta illos, et claritas Dei circumfulsit illos, et timuerunt timore magno. Et dixit illis angelus: Nolite timere! Ecce enim evangelio vobis gaudium magnum, quod erit omni populo: quia natus est vobis hodie Christus Dominus in civitate David. Et hoc vobis signum: Invenietis infantem pannis involutum, et positum in praesepio. Et subito facta est cum Angelo multitudo militiae coelestis, laudantium Deum, et dicentium: Gloria in altissimis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
Rudolfō rennō rubrināsō
Erant nārēs nitidissimae
Quās sī quandō conspicerēs
Dīcerēs exsplendēscere.
Omnēs rennī rīsu cēterī
Cum eō cavillārī solēbant,
Neque umquam miserum Rudolfum
Sīvērunt lūdīs suīs lascīvīre
Tum quādam nebulōsā vesperā
Sanctus advēnit eī dictātum:
Rudolfe nāsō splendidō,
Quīn hāc nocte traham duceres?
Tunc ita rennī eum dīlēxērunt
ut laetī omnēs exclāmārint:
Rudolfe renne rubrināse,
Memorāberis in tabulīs
VOCABULARY NOTES
rennus, -ī m seems to be a recent coinage for `reindeer’. The usual Latin equivalents are tarandrus, -ī m (used by Pliny the Elder) and rēnō, rēnōnis m (in Caesar), though the latter probably only meant reindeer skin (as a garment) in classical Latin. The scientific name for the species is Rangifer tarandrus and rangifer, -ferī m is found in 16th century Latin as is cervus iugālis
cavillor, -ārī, cavillātus sum is classical Latin for `jeer’ or `scoff (at)’
exclāmārint is a contraction of the perfect subjunctive exclāmāverint
The plainchant version of `Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer’ can also be heard (with the Latin text as subtitles) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwkH1SAwphY
Luke 2: 8-14 (the angel appearing to the shepherds) is set to music in Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio (from 3:15 in the recording at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktt7s7yDGxc )
Et pastores erant, in regione eadem vigilantes, et custodientes vigilias noctis super gregem suum. Et ecce Angelus Domini stetit juxta illos, et claritas Dei circumfulsit illos, et timuerunt timore magno. Et dixit illis angelus: Nolite timere! Ecce enim evangelio vobis gaudium magnum, quod erit omni populo: quia natus est vobis hodie Christus Dominus in civitate David. Et hoc vobis signum: Invenietis infantem pannis involutum, et positum in praesepio. Et subito facta est cum Angelo multitudo militiae coelestis, laudantium Deum, et dicentium: Gloria in altissimis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
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