Poulenc, Francis: Vinea mea electa


Vinea mea electa from ‘Quatre motets pour un temps de pénitence’ (1939)

Vinea mea electa, ego te plantavi: quomodo conversa es in amaritudinem, ut me crucifigeres et Barrabam dimitteres.
Sepivi te et lapides elegi ex te et aedificavi turrim.

You are my chosen vine and by my hand you were planted; how then have you become bitter? You crucified me and set Barabbas free. I guarded you with a hedge, I removed the stones from around you and I built a tower to watch over you.

Words: Third Responsory for Good Friday
Music: Francis Poulenc (1899–1963)